Pope John Paul II
papacy 1978–2005

John Paul II's 'consistent ethic of life' included strong opposition to abortion and traditional marriage AND strong opposition to the death penalty, the Iraq War, anti-immigrant nativism, and exploitation of labor. Both candidates align with JPII on abortion and Christian-influenced anti-authoritarianism. Cornyn matches JPII somewhat better on labor (Cornyn has been more measured on union and labor questions, though still right-of-center) and on his anti-Russia hawkish framework (JPII spent his career fighting Soviet totalitarianism). Paxton's Annunciation-House-Catholic-shelter investigation specifically lands against JPII's migrant-protection framework; Cornyn has avoided that posture. Both lose on the death penalty record where Texas's record runs hard against JPII's consistent-life framework; Paxton has defended that record vocally while Cornyn has been less prominent.