Famous Catholics, Social Media Stars Express Wholehearted Support for Harrison Butker After Graduation Speech

Three-time Super Bowl Champion Harrison Butker made headlines over the last week for his commencement address at Benedictine College on May 11, 2024. 

Butker, a devout Traditional Latin Mass Catholic attendee, husband, father, and entrepreneur, took to the stage in a somewhat untraditional speech.

“I know that my message today had a little less fluff than is expected for these speeches, but I believe that this audience and this venue is the best place to speak openly and honestly about who we are and where we all want to go, which is Heaven.”

He touched on the beauty of marriage, the role of husbands and wives, gender ideology, the dignity of life, and truly living out the Catholic faith.

He also chastised “Catholic” President Joe Biden for his outspoken pro-choice stance as well as members of the clergy he believes care more about political talking points and gaining popularity than leading their flock. 

While hundreds of critics took to social media in upset over Harrison Butker’s remarks, notable public figures spoke out to support him: 

Former Notre Dame football coach and Hall of Famer Lou Holtz posted a note of praise on X, stating “Thank you @buttkicker7 for standing strong in your faith values. Your commencement speech at Benedictine College showed courage and conviction and I admire that. Don’t give in.” While also linking a petition in support of him. “Sign here to thank Super Bowl Champion Harrison Butker, a true man of God.”

Catholic Fox News Host Rachel Campos Duffy posted, “Outrageous. I heard the entire speech by ⁦#HarrisonButker. It was 100% #Catholic in its worldview. Is #NFL saying they have no place for Catholics in their organization? Why does tolerance only go one way in America? So sick of it.”

Catholic actress Patricia Heaton from “The Middle” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” took to Instagram in a video to share her thoughts.

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“He gave a commencement speech. The audience applauded twice during the speech and gave him a standing ovation at the end, so clearly they enjoyed what he was saying. The guy is espousing his own opinions and Catholic doctrine. So what?" Heaton says. "He’s not a monster for stating what he believes."

"I am a Catholic woman who worked through my kids’ childhood, and I believe that God opened those doors for me. And thankfully, it was a schedule that allowed me to also be a full-time mom, basically. I find nothing offensive about what he said," she continues. "That’s OK. That’s his opinion.”

Bill Maher also defended Butker on his talk show.

He states, “I don't see what the big crime is, I really don’t.”

He also notes the irony of college leftists enraged over Butker while simultaneously “demonstrating for Hamas.” 

Liz Wheeler, host of the Liz Wheeler Show, participated in an online trend on X (Formerly Twitter), of working mothers sharing their support for Butker’s sentiments.

She stated, “My name is Liz, I have a high-powered career that I love, and I totally agree with Harrison Butker: my most fulfilling role is wife to my husband & mother to my two young daughters. 

Notable Catholic clergy also came to Burker's defense, including San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and Bishop Joseph Strickland of Texas. 

Encouraging people to read Butker's speech, Archbishop Cordelione shared, “@buttkicker7's call for young Catholic men to put their vocations as husbands and fathers first could not be more important. Surely we spiritual fathers can ponder his call to us too. Faithfulness is the way.”

Bishop Strickland stated, “Thank you Harrison for speaking truth, it is no surprise that some are reacting with extreme negativity, too many today hate the Truth & merely want “their” truth which is not truth at all. You are in my prayers.

Father Ronald Vierling posted, “Good to hear. Butker’s theme, long-cherished in the Catholic tradition, was the family as the domestic Church. Although Butker’s words about women have been highlighted (and misrepresented) in the media, Butker also reminded men of their duties as husbands and fathers. His sole point—and made quite eloquently—is that the call to Christian parenthood is infinitely more important and fulfilling than the pursuit of a career path. This triggered the left who find such notions as masculinity, femininity, and family offensive.” 

Senator Josh Hawley posted a photo with Butker, stating, “Never more proud to call Harrison Butker my friend.”

Congressman Keith Stelf of Texas also shared a photo with the Chief’s kicker, “I stand with Harrison.” 

Catholic Vote shared clips of his speech with the caption, “WATCH: Super Bowl Champ Harrison Butker leaves Catholic grads at Benedictine College in CHILLS after sharing his deep love for the Traditional Latin Mass.”

Lila Rose, a Catholic wife, mother, and the founder of Live Action posted, “Harrison Butker is right. Supporting the murder of babies is unacceptable for everyone, especially Christians.” 

In a post on X (Formerly Twitter), Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, posted, "If you watch one video today, this should be it. Harrison Butker at Benedictine College: 'This is an important reminder that ‘being Catholic’ alone doesn’t cut it.'" 

Shawn Carney, CEO of 40 Days for Life, went on Fox News to discuss the hypocrisy of the NFL.

In a clip on X from 40 Days for Life, Carney stated, “The NFL has had rapists, the NFL has had people that have beaten women and we’re going to attack a guy who teared up about the day that he met his future bride in middle school?  Who challenges men to be good husbands and good fathers? This is who we are attacking?"

While Butker’s commencement address has stirred debate regarding free speech, it has also revealed a plethora of anti-Catholic bigotry.

Watch the full Harrison Butker speech here: