Rosary Rally Held After Video Clip
In a recent demonstration outside Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s home, a group of Catholics gathered for a “Rosary Rally for Religious Respect” after a video featuring the governor sparked outrage among religious communities. The rally, organized by CatholicVote, aimed to protest what many Catholics viewed as a mockery of the Holy Communion sacrament.
The controversy began when Whitmer appeared in a TikTok-style video wearing a Harris-Walz campaign hat and feeding Doritos to liberal podcaster Liz Plank, who knelt in front of her while the two stared awkwardly into the camera.
The clip, part of a trend set to the song “Dilemma” by Nelly and Kelly Rowland, was meant to highlight the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act—a bill aimed at bolstering domestic semiconductor production. But many in the religious community, particularly Catholics, saw the video as an irreverent parody of the sacred Christian rite of Communion.
Catholics gathered around home of MI Gov Gretchen Whitmer praying Rosary in the rain🙏 pic.twitter.com/KLs22OaxBm
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) October 13, 2024
Whitmer quickly issued an apology after the backlash, insisting that the video was never meant to offend or mock those of faith. She reiterated her commitment to protecting religious freedoms, stating, “I would never do something to denigrate someone’s faith.”
Nevertheless, the apology did little to quell the discontent. On Sunday, approximately 100 Catholics gathered outside Whitmer’s residence in Lansing, praying the rosary and calling for greater respect for religious practices.
Participants emphasized that their protest was not just about the video, but a broader concern over growing anti-Catholic sentiment, which they feel is being promoted by certain segments of the progressive left. One rally-goer described the video as “blasphemous,” explaining, “It’s our most sacred sacrament… we came to pray for her and for mercy.”
A Response to Whitmer’s Communion Mockery
s/o @CatholicVote
Where: Governors Mansion
When: Sunday 10/13 @ 4pm pic.twitter.com/ClN7cMdFfH— Rep. Josh Schriver (@JoshuaSchriver) October 11, 2024
CatholicVote’s National Political Director explained the deeper motivation behind the rally, citing concern over actions they believe undermine the dignity of the Eucharist and the broader rise of anti-Catholic rhetoric. The group’s statement underscored that they were praying for Whitmer’s “conversion of heart and mind” and reminding political leaders that Catholics, as voters, seek to have their faith respected.