Vice President JD Vance is acknowledging that some of his past criticism of U.S. Catholic bishops may have been too sharp, saying he could have addressed the issue more carefully while discussing disagreements over immigration policy.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, made headlines last year after suggesting that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) may have been motivated in part by financial concerns when criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. At the time, the bishops had condemned federal immigration raids and other measures targeting undocumented immigrants.

During a January 2025 appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Vance questioned whether the bishops’ concerns were purely humanitarian.

“I think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns?” Vance said at the time. “Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?”

His remarks sparked criticism from some Catholic leaders and observers who argued the comments unfairly questioned the motives of church leaders involved in refugee and migrant assistance.

Now, more than a year later, Vance is reflecting on the controversy with a more measured tone.

In a recent interview with The Washington Post, the vice president admitted he may have gone too far in expressing his concerns.

“I’m not saying he’s lying, but I mean, look, sometimes I say things too harshly. I say things too directly,” Vance said when asked about comments from retired Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop emeritus of New York, who previously stated that Vance had apologized for the remarks.

While Vance did not confirm whether he formally apologized, he acknowledged that his wording could have been more thoughtful.

“I could have made that comment more carefully without going too hard at church leadership,” he said.

Vance also recalled telling Cardinal Dolan to “be careful your financial interests and the immigration issue don’t actually cloud your judgment,” though he noted that it has been several months since the two last spoke in detail.

Despite the disagreement, Vance suggested that tensions between government leaders and religious authorities are sometimes unavoidable, particularly when moral concerns intersect with public policy.

“There will inevitably be conflict between the government and the clergy,” he said. Still, he emphasized his desire to approach those differences with humility and respect.

“I hope to come toward it with a spirit of charity,” Vance added.

At the same time, the vice president said his responsibilities in government require him to focus on enforcing immigration law and ensuring the safety and prosperity of American citizens.

“My job is to make sure that the American people are as safe and prosperous as they can be,” Vance said. “Sometimes that means asking whether someone has come into our country legally and what we should do if they have not.”

The discussion follows Vance’s meeting with Vatican officials last year to address concerns about migrants and deportations, highlighting the ongoing dialogue—and sometimes tension—between church leaders and policymakers on immigration issues.