(LifeSiteNews) — Pro-life and Catholic leaders criticized Ohio Senator JD Vance for recently endorsing the availability of deadly abortion drugs.

The Ohio Republican, and Catholic convert, is considered a potential running mate for President Donald Trump. On Meet the Press Sunday, Vance endorsed the widespread availability of abortion drugs made possible by President Joe Biden’s loosening of restrictions.

The Yale University law graduate also appeared to misunderstand the Supreme Court decision, which centered on whether pro-life medical professionals could challenge the regulation changes, not on whether abortion pills should remain legal.

READ: Potential Trump running mate JD Vance says he supports ‘access’ to deadly abortion pills

“On the question of the abortion pill, what so many of us have said… the Supreme Court made a decision saying that the American people should have access to that medication, Donald Trump has supported that opinion, I support that opinion,” Vance said, discussing the recent FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine decision.

He then said that lowering housing costs and ending surprise medical bills for delivery is the Trump and Republican approach to the destruction of innocent human life in the womb.

Catholic Senator @JDVance1 said he supports Supreme Court decision on abortion drugs. pic.twitter.com/LKUzTUwu4j

— Matt Lamb (@MattLamb22) July 8, 2024

“Hey @JDVance1, you’re wrong about what SCOTUS said on abortion pills. And you’re wrong on their danger. Lives matter. Get it right,” Students for Life Action President Kristan Hawkins wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

SFL Action, the political arm of Students for Life of America, further criticized Vance in an emailed statement to LifeSiteNews, calling his comments “very concerning.”

“And, just as importantly, they were wrong. The high court did not give deadly, life-ending pills a free pass,” SFL Action told LifeSiteNews. “Instead, the Supreme Court sent the case back for further review, without looking at the heart of the concerns, with the instruction that more direct victims are needed for legal review.”

SFL Action also said it “would be irresponsible for the GOP to refuse to address this federal abortion market – online, no test distribution of chemical abortion pills.”

“In America today, the number one means of abortion – chemical abortion pills – are distributed without oversight leading to abortion water pollution causing chaos in women’s lives, loss of life, and danger to our waterways,” the pro-life group stated further. “This has been made possible by the weaponized use of federal agencies that a future administration must address.”

American Life League also criticized Vance, particularly since he is a professed Catholic. The Catholic Church condemns abortion as a grave sin and teaches that Catholics must oppose it.

“Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches. “Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.”

Vance’s comments are “a betrayal of his confirmation as a Catholic man,” American Life League Executive Vice President Hugh Brown told LifeSiteNews in a media statement.

Brown also hit on a point other commentators brought up, suggesting Vance is making the statement for political points and to curry favor with Trump. The GOP platform, at Trump’s behest, has weakened its historical support for protecting preborn babies from abortion and opposing homosexual “marriage.”

“The argument that supporting death is necessary for political expediency spits in the face of every saint and martyr who gave up everything, everything, to defend their virtue, their beliefs, their love of Christ and being Catholic,” Brown said.

“It spits in the face of Christ. It is an absolute lack of faith, a lack of belief in the fidelity and grace of almighty God,” according to Brown.

He said that “supporting death to further ones political aspirations while claiming to be Catholic is deception.”

“You will find no fear of the Lord in politicians regardless of their affiliation. Money, votes, power is all they care about. Good men are truly hard to find,” he said. “Pray for the conversion of heart of every Catholic politician to trust Christ and to defend the lives of human beings, born and unborn.”

Hugely disappointing @JDVance1 https://t.co/3ujZGdE21I

— Jeanne F. Mancini (@jeannemfl) July 7, 2024

March for Life President Jeanne Mancini called Vance’s comments “hugely disappointing,” as well.

Vance’s Senate office did not respond to two emails and a voicemail left on Monday seeking comment. LifeSiteNews emailed William Martin, his communications director, and asked if Vance disagrees with the Catholic Church on abortion, why he supports abortion pills, what “common ground” is when it comes to protecting preborn babies, and what protections he supports.

The Ohio Republican’s comments echo that of Trump, who once suggested he would find a way to make “both sides” happy on the issue of abortion.

Instead, Trump and Vance have largely taken the position of the Democratic Party, opposing any federal limits on abortion and supporting dangerous abortion pills.