NFL Star Responds To ‘Hate’ Over Beliefs

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Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker responded Friday to the “shocking level of hate” he received after giving a Catholic college commencement speech in May that went viral.

Butker went viral in May for a speech he made at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where he touched on some key values held by a majority of the American public. The speech took aim at President Joe Biden’s “delusional” proclamation of Catholic faith while supporting abortion. He also praised the value and importance of women in modern society and their support of seemingly our entire social system.

His statements were met with vitriolic hatred by many within the mainstream news media and online. He responded to this hated on Friday at a “Courage Under Fire” gala in Nashville, Tennessee, in support of the Regina Coeli Academy (RCA), according to the Christian Post. (LEARN MORE: Countless Students Turn To Christ At US Colleges)

Butker’s Statements

“The theme of tonight’s gala — Courage Under Fire — was decided many months ago, but it now feels providential that this would be the theme after what we have all witnessed these past few weeks,” Butker told the other guests. “If it wasn’t clear that the timeless Catholic values are hated by many, it is now.”

“At the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate. But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion,” he continued. “In my seven years in the NFL, I have become familiar with the positive and negative comments. But the majority of them revolved around my performance on the field. But as to be expected, the more I’ve talked about what I value most, which is my Catholic faith, the more polarizing I’ve become.” (LEARN MORE: NFL MVP, Rookie Of The Year Thank Jesus On Live TV)

“It’s a decision I’ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all,” he added. “If we have truth and charity, we should trust in the Lord’s providence and let the holy ghost do the rest of the work. Our love for Jesus, and thus our desire to speak out, can never be outweighed by the longing for our fallen nature to be loved by the world. Glorifying God and not ourselves should always remain our motivation despite any pushback or even support. I lean on those closest to me for guidance. But I can never forget that it is not people but Jesus Christ who I am trying to please.”

Power Of Courage

Butker added that he can’t “help but tremble at the courage many saints have shown in their lives.” He asked: “Would I be so bold if the repercussions are what Daniel faced in being fed to lions?” (LEARN MORE: What NFL Stars Have To Say About Their Faith)

“In reality, any courage I’ve shown will lead to some small suffering and will lead to some people never liking me. That could be God’s will. If I constantly remind myself of the hardships that saints went through, especially the martyrs and their persecution, it makes it all seem not so bad. For if Heaven is our goal, we should embrace our cross however large or small it may be and live our life for joy to be a bold witness for Christ,” he noted, asking others to be “unapologetic” in their faith and “never be afraid to speak out for truth, even when it goes against the loudest voices.”

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