Renowned American footballer Harrison Butker, recognized more as an NFL star kicker, delivered an impassioned commencement address at Benedictine College on Saturday. He took the opportunity to criticize President Biden and American bishops for their perceived retreat from the fullness of the Catholic faith, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Butker also endorsed the Traditional Latin Mass, or TLM, which he has openly praised. Urging graduates to prioritize their spiritual lives when starting their careers, he pressed upon the audience the importance of a locale that values spiritual and sacramental life.
Best known for his remarkable career as a three-time Super Bowl champion, Butker is also noted for his outspoken commitment to his Catholic faith and his support for the Latin Mass. During his address, he maintained that his connection to traditionalist practices was not about arrogance, fetishism, or taste, but about the holiness of worship.
Butker also tread on socio-political topics like abortion and LGBT issues. He challenged the validity of being both a Catholic and pro-choice and cautioned against the cultural impact of the so-called “Anti-Semitism Awareness Act,” and what he referred to as the “tyranny of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Applauding his wife’s role as a homemaker, the football component of the address was reserved for his accomplishment as a Kansas City Chief, winning their third Super Bowl Championship in five years in 2024, and his historic 89.1% conversion rate as the second-most accurate kicker in the league.