A Jesuit priest calling a pro-abortion Hollywood star one of today’s “best Catholic evangelists” captures, in one sentence, why many Americans think our cultural and religious elites have lost the plot.
Story Snapshot
- Father James Martin has repeatedly lifted up comedian Stephen Colbert as a model Catholic voice in public life, despite ongoing controversy over Colbert’s abortion politics.
- Supporters see Martin’s praise as part of a broader strategy of evangelization through relationships, cultural influence, and humor rather than partisan litmus tests.
- Critics argue that calling Colbert an evangelist blurs Catholic teaching on abortion and illustrates how elites excuse contradictions they would punish in ordinary believers.
- The clash exposes deeper frustration across the spectrum with institutions that seem to prize celebrity access and spin over clear moral witness and accountability.
How Father James Martin and Stephen Colbert Became a Catholic Media Duo
Jesuit priest Father James Martin has spent years in the public eye, writing, speaking, and appearing in secular media as a kind of unofficial ambassador of Catholicism to American culture.[2] His long-running relationship with comedian Stephen Colbert dates back to Colbert’s satirical news days, where Martin was dubbed “The Colbert Report’s chaplain” and praised for helping explain faith with humor to a mass audience.[6] This pairing of priest and late-night host laid the groundwork for later claims that Colbert functions as a kind of Catholic evangelist in the media space.[4][6]
Martin’s more recent projects continue that partnership. In 2025 he launched “The Spiritual Life,” a podcast where Colbert joined him to discuss meeting the pope, being Catholic, and what Martin calls the “spirituality of humor.”[5] America Magazine highlighted the episode as Colbert reflecting on his journey from a “fallen away” Catholic back to practicing the faith, framing him as a relatable figure for listeners who have drifted from church and wrestle with faith in a secular, polarized culture. That framing reinforces Martin’s habit of seeing cultural figures as potential bridges rather than enemies.
Martin’s Broad Evangelization Strategy and the Life-Issues Tension
Martin’s support for Colbert fits into a wider pattern: he regularly emphasizes evangelization as relationship-building with those on the margins or far from church life, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Catholics, whose pastoral care work has drawn both praise and criticism.[2] In America Magazine, Martin has also written strongly worded pieces describing himself as pro-life, insisting that “every life is sacred” and that Catholic witness should defend all human life consistently, from the unborn to the vulnerable poor.[3] That dual emphasis—broad outreach and a stated pro-life ethic—sets up a built-in tension when he praises celebrities whose politics clash with church teaching on abortion.
Colbert, for his part, has long been treated as a distinctly Catholic entertainer in both secular and religious media. Crux, a Catholic outlet, has written about his “Catholic fan base” and noted his public defense of organizations tied to abortion rights, signaling that his political stance is widely perceived as pro-choice within Catholic commentary.[1] Yet the same coverage and Martin’s own appearances on Colbert’s shows stress his comfort quoting Scripture, talking about the saints, and joking about church life in a way that feels insider rather than hostile.[4][6] That mix of visible faith identity and disputed moral positions is exactly what fuels the current dispute over whether he can credibly be called an evangelist.
Why “Best Catholic Evangelist” Language Sparks Fears of Elite Double Standards
The flashpoint phrase—Martin reportedly calling Colbert one of today’s “best Catholic evangelists”—lands in an already polarized Catholic media environment where labels like “evangelist” and “pro-abortion” are weapons as much as descriptions.[1] Supporters interpret Martin’s praise as shorthand for Colbert’s ability to make Catholic faith visible and even attractive to secular viewers who would never watch a religious program.[6] Critics hear something very different: a church insider seeming to downplay a grave moral issue while elevating a celebrity, confirming their suspicion that religious elites bend rules for the famous that they would apply harshly to ordinary believers.[1][3]
The available sources do not provide a full transcript of the podcast moment when Martin used that language, which limits how precisely his intent can be judged.[5] What we do know is that he publicly grounds his pro-life position in the dignity of every human life and argues that a consistent ethic of life strengthens Catholic credibility.[3] That gives critics ammunition to ask why someone widely described in Catholic media as supporting abortion rights should be held up as a leading evangelist without clear qualification.[1][3] The lack of detailed clarification from church authorities leaves the field to partisan media outlets, which spin the same facts toward outrage or defense depending on their audience.
What This Controversy Reveals About Trust in Religious and Cultural Institutions
For many Americans already skeptical of institutions, this story fits a familiar pattern: powerful insiders talking about “dialogue” and “bridge-building” while core principles seem negotiable when a celebrity is involved. Conservatives frustrated with what they see as moral compromise and “woke” priorities in churches view the Colbert praise as one more sign that elites care more about staying in good standing with liberal culture than about defending the unborn.[1][3] Liberals who are exhausted by partisan battles, meanwhile, may see the fight as proof that religious leaders cannot say anything generous about a flawed public figure without triggering a purity war that ignores economic injustice and broader threats to human dignity.
Stephen Colbert: Catholic evangelist? According to James Martin, yes. pic.twitter.com/r3XOeRvirb
— Sign of the Cross (@CatholicSOTC) May 21, 2026
The deeper issue is not just Colbert or Martin; it is what counts as real evangelization in a media-saturated, politically fractured country. Is evangelization primarily about clearly teaching doctrine, even if it costs cultural influence, or about building relationships in messy public spaces, trusting that grace works through imperfect witnesses?[2][3][6] The controversy shows how easily elites can send mixed signals when they do not spell out those tradeoffs, and how quickly ordinary people—left and right—conclude that the game is rigged, that image matters more than integrity, and that the institutions meant to guard truth are now managed by spin. That erosion of trust, more than any headline, may be the most serious fallout from this latest Catholic media storm.
Sources:
[1] Web – Is Stephen Colbert losing his Catholic fan base? – Crux
[2] Web – James J. Martin (priest) – Wikipedia
[3] Web – Father James Martin: Why I Am Pro-Life – America Magazine
[4] YouTube – Father James Martin On The Jobs That Helped Him Grow Up
[5] Web – Stephen Colbert on meeting the pope, being Catholic and the …
[6] Web – What makes Stephen Colbert one of today’s best Catholic evangelists