According to Daily Mail, Roman Catholics are renewing their grievances against Vice President Kamala Harris, criticizing her past actions and statements regarding a Catholic judge nominee.
Roman Catholics are expressing renewed concerns about Kamala Harris. In 2018, Harris questioned Brian Buescher, a nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, about his membership in the Knights of Columbus. Harris referred to the Knights of Columbus as "an all-male society comprised primarily of Catholic men" and questioned their stances on abortion and same-sex marriage.
Buescher responded that his membership would not impact his judicial decisions. Many Catholics viewed Harris' questions as an unconstitutional "religious test." Sen. Ben Sasse introduced a Senate resolution stating that disqualifying a nominee based on Knights of Columbus membership was unconstitutional, which passed unanimously.
The issue resurfaced during the 2020 campaign, brought up by Mike Pence in a debate. Harris claimed to be a person of faith and found the suggestion that she attacked someone for their faith "insulting." Catholic activists argue Harris is unfit for the presidency due to her Senate actions.
Harris' potential nomination as a presidential candidate brings her faith into the spotlight. Joe Biden is a practicing Catholic who attends Mass weekly, while Harris does not regularly attend public church services. Harris identifies as a Baptist and has spoken about her faith in various contexts.
CatholicVote President Brian Burch criticized Harris, recalling her 2018 actions against a Catholic judge nominee. Burch stated that Harris' actions were a form of anti-religious bigotry and unconstitutional.
Harris has defended her actions, stating that her questions were about ensuring impartiality in court rulings. She expressed that her faith is an important part of her identity and that she respects all religious beliefs.
Harris' likely nomination as the new presidential candidate puts her faith into the spotlight. While Joe Biden claims to be a practicing Catholic and attends Mass weekly, Harris does not attend public church services regularly. This difference has also sparked discussions about the role of faith in their potential presidencies.
Harris describes herself as a Baptist, recalling her upbringing and attendance at the 23rd Avenue Church of God in Oakland, California, with Regina Shelton, a family friend she describes as her "second mother," with strong connections to the black South. Harris spoke about her faith during a 2022 visit to the National Baptist Convention in Houston:
Faith teaches us that a brighter future is always ahead and we must keep moving forward to realize that future. And to move forward, simply put, I also learned and we all know: Faith requires action.
Harris' Indian mother, Shymala Gopalan Harris, described Harris as attending the Hindu temple in San Francisco. She performs all rituals and says all prayers at the temple, she proudly stated to an Indian news outlet in 2004. Today, Harris is a member of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish, and the couple publicly celebrates Jewish holidays together. Harris still offers a nod to her Hindu heritage; however, she is celebrating the Indian holiday of Diwali at the White House.
Catholic activists now argue Harris is unfit for the presidency, citing her efforts in the Senate. Not only is this a gross form of anti-religious bigotry, it's also unconstitutional, Burch said. Harris' likely nomination as the new presidential candidate puts her faith into the spotlight.
Roman Catholics are renewing criticisms against Vice President Kamala Harris over her past interactions with a Catholic judge nominee. This scrutiny comes as Harris is considered a potential candidate for the 2024 presidential election. Her actions in the Senate, particularly her questioning of Brian Buescher, have been labeled by some as anti-religious bigotry.
Harris, who identifies as a Baptist and celebrates multiple religious traditions, has defended her actions as necessary for ensuring judicial impartiality. The debate highlights ongoing tensions between faith and politics as Harris' potential candidacy looms.
