Gov. Kathy Hochul is drawing backlash after posting that she grew up in a Catholic family and that those values still guide her work. In a Friday video on X, the New York governor said it was an honor to meet faith leaders making a difference in their communities. Online users quickly questioned the message, pointing to her record on abortion and a recent appearance at a New York City mosque where she covered her head.
In the caption, Hochul wrote that she “grew up in a Catholic family,” was taught “to take care of our neighbors, help those in need, and put our faith into action,” and that “those values guide me every day.”
The footage shows Hochul speaking indoors with a microphone beside a “Hochul Adams” campaign podium. “I feel so blessed to be in a room of all these faith leaders who have been chosen by God to look out for God’s children,” she says. “And I feel the same way. This is my mission on earth.” She adds that she was raised by “social justice Catholics” and taught that “there’s always someone who needs more than us.”
She recalls her parents visiting “the elderly, the sick” and bringing “hope to people,” calling public office “a gift from God.” She thanks the room as “the most trusted people in your communities,” says she is there “with a heart of gratitude,” and tells them “four more years will show even more,” including the chance to “worship God the way you choose without harassment.”
The clip ends with the crowd chanting “Four more years!” and a “Paid for by Friends for Kathy Hochul” disclaimer. The video does not identify the venue or what took place before she spoke.
“Four More Years” Inside. A Different Chorus Outside.
Many of the most-liked replies on X focused on abortion. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin asked, “Were you taught that killing unborn babies was fine?”
Others put it more bluntly: “You can’t be Catholic and believe in abortion,” and “You’re not Catholic.”
A second group zeroed in on the wording and the campaign timing. One user wrote, “To be fair, she didn’t say she WAS Catholic. She said she ‘grew up in a Catholic family.’”
Another said she remains Catholic “by her baptism” but is “obviously not practicing.” A third argued the post mixed faith with government, saying, “As a Catholic, I was NOT told to pay my taxes and let the government care for the poor.”
The room in the video sounded different. Attendees chanted “Four more years!” as the clip ended.
The clip now sits inside a larger New York campaign conversation about faith, policy, and how politicians talk about both. For now, the argument online remains split between those who hear a familiar personal story and those who are measuring it against Hochul’s record.
