A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on Monday stated that the Catholic Church in the United States is undergoing a significant transformation, stressing that while many dioceses experience decline, a growing movement of conservative Catholicism in America is emerging, shaped by political, theological, and cultural realignments.

This resurgence is especially visible in alignment with MAGA-era values, traditional practices, and a renewed emphasis on scripture and orthodoxy.

Conservative Catholicism in America gains momentum

According to WSJ, in St. Louis, the archdiocese recently closed or merged dozens of parishes due to dwindling attendance and a shortage of priests, but just outside the city, on a bluff above the Missouri River, the Augustine Institute, a seminary promoting scripture and tradition, has become a hub of conservative Catholic renewal.

The institute purchased a 284-acre former Boeing retreat center for $20 million, signaling a commitment to expansion.

Founded in 2005, the Augustine Institute has grown out of its original Denver base. The move reflects broader national trends, as conservative Catholics seek to reclaim older forms of devotion and religious life.

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This MAGA Catholic movement is marked by a rejection of liberal culture and the embrace of traditional Christian values.

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According to WSJ, US Vice President JD Vance, a convert baptized in 2019, exemplifies this shift. He spent Easter at the Vatican and met with the late Pope Francis, underscoring the growing influence of conservative Catholic figures in political life. Groups like CatholicVote play a key role in linking faith and politics, opposing abortion, gender ideology, immigration policies, and free trade. 

Tensions with Pope Francis and the Vatican

After Pope Francis' appointment in 2013, the Vatican leaned toward a pastoral, inclusive approach, clashing with the aims of many conservative American Catholics. 

As per the report, the divide intensified when Trump appointed Brian Burch, founder of CatholicVote, as US ambassador to the Holy See.

Moreover, disputes over immigration escalated when JD Vance criticized the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for allegedly benefiting financially from federal aid to migrants, prompting rebuke from Cardinal Timothy Dolan and even a clarifying letter from Pope Francis himself.

One hallmark of this resurgence is the traditional Latin Mass revival, a pre-Vatican II liturgical form that the pope has sought to discourage. Yet its popularity grows, especially among younger Catholics drawn to its symbolism and sacred atmosphere.

New training grounds for conservative leaders

Institutions like the Augustine Institute, Franciscan University, and Benedictine College are now producing a new generation of conservative clergy and lay leaders. The 2022 Catholic Project survey found that 80% of priests ordained since 2020 identify as conservative or orthodox, as per WSJ.  

Augustine’s campus includes a former Gilded Age estate, repurposed into classrooms and chapels, emphasizing doctrinal clarity and a return to foundational Catholic teachings.

“We have 2,000 years of tradition,” said graduate student Madeline Joerger. "We have to have something to say beyond the modern world."

This movement is not merely theological but cultural, WSJ mentioned, responding to secularism, modernity, and the loss of meaning many feel in contemporary life.

“The way to renew the Church is not to change the Church’s teaching to try to be popular,” said Augustine president Tim Gray. “If salt loses its tastiness, it’s not good for anything.”