Kansas City Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker's Commencement Speech Stirs Controversy at Benedictine College

Butker, a devout Catholic, used his speech to promote conservative political and societal views, including his belief that being a homemaker is the highest calling for women. His comments sparked backlash from the Benedictine nuns, who rejected "a narrow definition of what it means to be Catholic."

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has sparked controversy with a commencement speech he delivered earlier this week at Benedictine College, a Catholic institution in Atchison, Kansas. In his address, Butker espoused conservative political and societal views, including his belief that being a homemaker is the highest calling for women.

Butker's comments drew swift rebuke from the Benedictine nuns, who took issue with his narrow definition of Catholicism and his assertion that being a homemaker was the highest calling for women.

"The sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments in his 2024 Benedectine College commencement address represent the Catholic, Benedectine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we have been so invested," the nuns said in a statement on Facebook.

The nuns argued that Butker's speech promoted division rather than unity and that his assertion that being a homemaker was the highest calling for women was not in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church or the values of the college.

"Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division. One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is the highest calling for a woman," the nuns said.

Butker's speech has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised his boldness in speaking his mind, while others have criticized his views as outdated and divisive.

Butker played in his third Super Bowl with Kansas City this year and has emerged as a prominent figure in the NFL. His strong faith and conservative beliefs have been a topic of discussion before, but his commencement speech brought them to the forefront.

Butker's jersey sales have spiked since his speech, but his comments have also drawn criticism from some in the media.

"Butker's speech was a divisive and outdated diatribe that had no place at a Catholic college," wrote one commentator. "His comments about women were particularly offensive and reflect a narrow and misogynistic view of the world."

Others defended Butker's right to express his views, even if they were unpopular.

"Butker has a right to his opinions, even if they're not popular," said one commentator. "He's entitled to his faith and his beliefs, and we should respect that."

The controversy surrounding Butker's speech is likely to continue. It highlights the ongoing debate about the role of religion in society and the place of women in the workplace and at home.