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CV NEWS FEED // A prominent Catholic commentator known for a long stint as an EWTN radio hostess and speaker at events hosted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is facing scrutiny after she accused Vice President JD Vance, a fellow Catholic, of being an agent of the devil.
“He is doing the work of the evil one,” wrote Gloria Purvis in a Friday social media post.
Purvis’ comment came in response to a series of posts by the vice president decrying the phenomenon of journalists exposing and causing the firings of individuals based on their past social media posts.
In particular, Vance had spoken out in support of X owner Elon Musk rehiring Marko Elez, a 25-year-old former staffer working in the President Donald Trump-appointed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to help cut wasteful spending. Elez had resigned the day before after a Wall Street Journal report exposed the young man’s past online comments, which were widely seen as inappropriate and racist.
“Here’s my view,” Vance had written Friday. “I obviously disagree with some of Elez’s posts, but I don’t think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life. We shouldn’t reward journalists who try to destroy people. Ever. So I say bring him back. If he’s a bad dude or a terrible member of the team, fire him for that.”
Vance had also expressed concerns about young people, including his own children, facing a “culture that denies grace to people who make mistakes.” He offered thanks to God that “I grew up in a culture that encouraged me to grow and learn and feel remorse when I screwed up and offer grace when others did.”
Purvis shared screen captures of that argument from Vance, commenting: “Vance, a recent convert, demonstrates his comfort w the sin of racism here.”
“Defending racism is the antithesis of being prolife,” Purvis continued. “Focusing on the media as the evil doer rather than the person who did evil things is the work of the devil. Racism is incompatible w the faith.”
CatholicVote Vice President Joshua Mercer rejected Purvis’ comments, replying: “I hope everyone starts to see through this woman’s vicious smears. So sick of her toxic garbage.”
A number of other Catholic social media users took issue with Purvis’ characterization of Vance’s stance as well.
“You don’t honestly believe Vance is racist,” wrote one. “Look at his family — his wife and kids. Come on.”
Vance is married to a woman of Indian descent and is the father of mixed-race children.
“Silly, knee jerk response,” wrote another. “Everything isn’t racist. Vance is married to a woman most racists would reject – he is not racist nor defending racism.”
In July, Purvis delivered a keynote address at the National Eucharistic Congress held by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In her speech, Purvis said she was “seeing” Catholics become divided over politics. “We can talk about how, ‘Oh, this party or that party is so good and so great and all those people over in this party or that party aren’t really Catholic.’ Stop it.”
Purvis later in the speech gave an example of “unity, how we need to be with one another.” A woman at the Congress had embraced Purvis during an Adoration service. She “didn’t ask me how I voted,” Purvis recounted. “I just want to say that is how we also sow that unity. We love without qualification. We walk with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we keep each other upheld and motivated and loved instead of feeling isolated or judged.”
About one month later, Purvis argued on social media that “racism” has driven voters from the Republican Party. “They went to Democrats,” she wrote, because “the overall disposition of that party is more pleasing bc it doesn’t promote racism, which is at its core the antithesis of a culture of life.”
Gloria Purvis is the hostess of “The Gloria Purvis Podcast,” produced by the Jesuit magazine America.
