Rep. Nancy Mace Raises Brows After Talking About her Sex Life At a Prayer Breakfast

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Last week, Representative Nancy Mace (SC-01) raised eyebrows when she spoke at Senator Tim Scott’s (R-SC) prayer breakfast with talk of her pre-marital sex life. Mace said when she woke up early in the morning, her fiancé, Patrick, pulled her by the waist in bed. “No, baby, we ain’t got time for that this morning. I’ve gotta get to the prayer breakfast.” Mace laughingly admitted it was “TMI,” but then proceeded to assure the crowd that she would see Patrick later that evening.

Conservative influencers have been pointing out the obvious: it’s not an appropriate story for a prayer breakfast for Republican evangelical voters. Prayer breakfasts are the opposite of edgy. Politicians and political activists attend such events, along with pastors and other people of faith. Politically, it’s a bizarre move. Mace referred to her commentary as a “joke,” but online influencers like Obianuju Ekeocha asked, “Which part is the joke?”

Where Mace’s “PG” confession took place wasn’t the only issue. Fornication is considered sinful and something Christians should not do (Ephesians 5:3, 1 Corinthians 6:18). Mace replied to Jack Posobiec on Twitter that “I go to church because I’m a sinner not a saint!” She was also glad her pastor in attendance, Greg Surratt, “took this joke in stride,” and said they’d have extra to talk about on Sunday.

Though many Christians have been critical, some have pleaded for others to have grace for the congresswoman. Managing Editor of the Babylon Bee Joel Berry scolded the pile-on. “So basically, this woman is a baby Christian who just started attending a fluffy non-dom church in DC and who doesn’t have all the answers yet—and all the Christians on this platform seem intent on chasing her back out. Good job, everyone.” Berry then added in his Twitter thread, “If she’s been attending Seacoast church for a couple of years and still doesn’t know what God’s Word says about sexuality, shame on her pastor.”

Seacoast Church is a mega church with multiple campuses focused on reaching “unchurched people” by “building a church that spoke the language of the modern culture. It was to be a place where non-believers were encouraged to investigate Christianity at their own pace.” They also create a “seeker-sensitive atmosphere that aims to welcome all people.”

Mace began attending church some years ago after Senator Tim Scott continuously encouraged her. She found her church after her second divorce. “Getting saved 4 years ago gave me the second chance I needed. Finding my faith was also life changing for my family – and we haven’t looked back since.”

Mace does hold political views that are controversial for evangelicals. Mace talked to Meet the Press about legislative compromise on abortion. “I think you can look at gestational stages that are reasonable for most Americans.” Mace also believes children conceived in rape and incest should be excluded from protection against violence in the womb via abortion. Mace does still consider herself to be pro-life with exceptions, citing her own trauma from rape as a 16-year-old girl. “And when you realize what’s happened in your life, the trauma, the emotional, the mental, the physical trauma in a woman’s life, that decision—she should make that decision with her doctor between her and her God.”

Mace also supported the Respect for Marriage Act. “If gay couples want to be as happily or miserably married as straight couples, more power to them. Trust me, I’ve tried it more than once.” The majority of weekly churchgoers still disapprove of gay marriage, according to a Gallup 2022 poll. Technically, the Respect for Marriage Act repealed the Defense of Marriage Act signed by President Bill Clinton, but it doesn’t legalize marriage in a state where it’s illegal. Many other Republicans and even some left-wing activists found RFMA to be performative for the gay community, and Senator Mike Lee warned it could lead to more religious persecution. He recommended amendments to alleviate those fears, but they were rejected.

Populist Republicans and even Democrats have come to Mace’s defense on Twitter, shaming Christians for trying to make her feel bad, accusing them of overreacting, and even sexism. However, the consensus appears to be it wasn’t an appropriate time and place for Mace’s out-of-wedlock sex life and it was political poor judgment. Meghan McCain Tweeted to Mace about her full speech, “Yes, but it was overshadowed by your weird sex life comments at a prayer breakfast and that was the big headline - politics 101. Conservative women don’t get to play by the same rules liberals do. Don’t give your enemies or the left easy targets against you.”