As a young white Catholic man myself, heavily involved in St. Paul Parish in Cambridge, I know many different kinds of Catholics, including those who Nate Tinner-Williams describes in his recent article (“Trump won over Catholics by recognizing their anger,’’ Ideas, Dec. 15). Like him, I voted neither for Harris or Trump.
I echo his sentiment that there are many young angry Catholic men. However, the majority of the young, diverse, and even the more conservative Catholic crowd in Cambridge, including white Catholics, are not enthralled with MAGA. Many prominent Catholic leaders, such as Lila Rose of Live Action, are vocal in their disdain for the GOP and MAGA’s abandonment of pro-life values.
Tinner-Williams also addresses what he sees as possible growth of Christian nationalist sentiment among young Catholic men. However, we shouldn’t conflate reactionary Catholic influencers with Christian Nationalists without nuance. Christian Nationalist thought leaders like Doug Wilson, Stephen Wolfe, and those associated with them dislike the Catholic Church and its social teaching on issues like immigration. We cannot conflate people of faith who have conservative social views with those wanting to create a Christian version of Iran.
For now, the majority of us young Catholics will continue to feel politically homeless. And perhaps that’s why some are liable to get sucked into extremism.
JACK EDMONDSON
Cambridge
