Can Pope Leo Bridge the Divide Between Social Justice and Prolife Catholics? by Kevin & Theresa Burke

By Kevin & Theresa Burke, Catholic Exchange, Sept. 30, 2025

Author’s Note: Kevin Burke, MSS, and Theresa Burke, Ph.D., are the founders of Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries. Theresa is the author of Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion and Kevin, Tears of the Fisherman, Recovery for Men Wounded by Abortion.

Bishop Robert Barron was delighted when he learned the name of our new pope, Leo XIV.

“I was very pleased when I heard his name,” Barron said. “He chose someone who indeed is reverenced by more liberal Catholics and more conservative Catholics.”  Bishop Barron suggested the name might indicate a desire to serve as a bridge builder.

Perhaps our new pope can also help lessen the great divide between two traditionally estranged groups in the United States: prolife and social justice Catholics.

From a political perspective, people involved in social justice ministries are generally strong Democratic voters. They see the party’s platform as more closely aligned to the interests of the populations they serve, such as immigrants, refugees, and families facing poverty and social injustice. …

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