Revisiting The Harrison Butker Controversy
Unless you were either born in the last three weeks or were living under a rock in May ‘‘24, you were probably aware of the controversy surrounding Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. The three-time Superbowl Champ gave a commencement speech to a Catholic audience at Benedictine College and highlighted the failures of President Biden and the Roman Catholic Church, before touching on triggering topics such as abortion, IVF, surrogacy, DEI, Pride Month and the roles of men and women
It’s no surprise in our polarizing climate that this received backlash. Anyone courageous enough to speak against the idols of our age will receive the same. But what might be surprising is that the most intense anger was reserved for Butker’s comments to the female Catholic college graduates about their potential future “vocation” as wives, mothers and homemakers, which led to over one-hundred thousand people signing a petition to have him sacked. And not in the footballing sense of the word.
For those who missed it, here’s what he said:
“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.
I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother. I'm on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. I'm beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.
She is a primary educator to our children. She is the one who ensures I never let football or my business become a distraction from that of a husband and father. She is the person that knows me best at my core…”
In any sane society, this would be understood as loving praise of his wife and an affirmation of the stated beliefs of the Catholic college at which he was speaking. Being a friend of Butker and knowing his Catholic faith, it seems clear that he was speaking about the ‘diabolical lies’ of radical feminism that has led to an attack on traditional values currently leading young women to prioritize their careers over marriage and family.
What might be helpful in all this would be to parse out what he said, and importantly what he did not. With accusations of misogyny being thrown around more liberally than the pigskin at a typical Chiefs game, which would be concerning if true, we need to see if this qualifies. So let’s check that out.
Accusation 1: Harrison Butker believes women shouldn’t be educated & a college degree is useless.
Answer: “…congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives.” Butker never said nor insinuated what these women accomplished as graduates, is worthless and should be thrown away. Neither did he say nor insinuate that current
Accusation 2: Women shouldn’t pursue a career.
Answer: “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world…I say all of this to you because I have seen it firsthand how much happier someone can be when they disregard the outside noise and move closer and closer to God's will in their life. Isabelle's dream of having a career might not have come true, but if you asked her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud, without hesitation, and say, “Heck, No.”… Everything I am saying to you is not from a place of wisdom, but rather a place of experience.”
Butker never said success in their careers was wrong or not worth pursuing. He explained that from experience and his wife’s own words, that her lack of “career success” is not as fulfilling as the vocation of mother being the “primary educator” of their children.
Accusation 3: Women will never find happiness and value in the workforce
Answer: “I have seen it firsthand how much happier someone can be when they disregard the outside noise and move closer and closer to God's will in their life.” Butker never said that his wife never felt value, purpose or fulfillment in her career but rather, she found much more happiness, value and fulfillment leaning into her vocation as a mother that God blessed her with.
Accusation 4: Women’s ultimate value comes from being a wife and a mother
Answer: “I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother. I'm on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation.”
Butker’s words affirm what his wife personally believes: namely that her life is more purposeful being in the position of a stay at home mom rather than a childless career woman. Nowhere did Butker nsinuate a “Handmaids Tale” scenario with women as second-class citizens. He affirms the biblical standard laid out in Genesis 2 & Ephesians 5, that women and men are equal in value as made in the image of God but not the same because they are made as compliments to one another.
Accusation 5: Single moms & others in tough life circumstances with kids should quit their jobs and just be stay at home moms living off government assistance
This is just an argument from silence that leads the thinker into believing another “diabolical lie” that men like Butker don’t care about women living in challenging life circumstances without the financial privilege he’s been able to provide for his wife.
To wrap this up, Butker was unfairly persecuted for holding to normal Christian beliefs. This displays the effect of decades of feminist brainwashing. They prefer the unmarried, childless Taylor Swift and her litany of broken relationships than the godly hom life of the Butker family.
As a silver lining on all this, Butker’s jersey became the best selling NFL jersey and thousands signed the petition to support Harrison Butker and his right to stand by his personal, religious convictions.