It’s hard being one of the least likable politicians. But somehow Kamala has made it this far.
Now she is desperately rebranding to win back this key demographic.
Speakers at the recent “Catholics for Harris” virtual rally worked hard to portray Kamala Harris as someone whose policies align with Catholic values, urging attendees to view her as a morally grounded leader.
After two summer postponements, the rally took place on September 18, with Alex Nason serving as emcee. Nason, a young Democratic operative with experience in the Irish government and the Arab League, opened by praising Vice President Harris for her time in office, stating that she has “advocated for, protected, and saw justice for the oppressed, and least among us, lending a voice to the voiceless.”
He insisted that Harris has been “leading with a moral purpose,” and as president, she will continue leading with that same sense of moral duty.
But as CatholicVote has previously reported, Harris is a staunch advocate for abortion-on-demand, has called for taxpayer-funded abortions, and has a troubling history of targeting pro-life pregnancy centers.
Nason stressed that Catholic voters are “not defined by a single partisan organization, but by our values, community, faith in each other, and love of country.” He emphasized that Catholics respect their neighbors and believe in the dignity of immigrants and all human beings.
Joe Donnelly, President Biden’s ambassador to the Holy See, shared his experiences of witnessing the “special friendship between President Biden and Pope Francis,” two individuals who “care about” and “respect” each other and who “work every day to try to make the world a better place.”
Donnelly emphasized that Harris has observed this dynamic daily and that she, like Biden, stands up “for the least among us.” He also claimed that Harris’s values, shaped by her Baptist faith, reflect “all Catholic values.”
Quoting Harris, Donnelly highlighted that her work is driven by her belief in the Bible and God, emphasizing, “She speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Donnelly contrasted Harris’s values with Trump’s, accusing the former president of approaching the immigration crisis with a mindset focused on vilifying immigrants and making their lives harder.
He also personally vouched for Tim Walz, the vice presidential nominee, recalling their time working together on the veterans committee. However, as CatholicVote previously reported, Walz has been accused of embellishing parts of his military record, and some veterans have labeled him a “liar” who lacks “loyalty” and “integrity.”
Donnelly defended Walz, stating that his Lutheran faith makes him humble, preferring not to boast about the good he does for those in need. This, Donnelly claimed, makes him similar to Biden, whose Catholic faith drives him to do good without seeking recognition.
Donnelly concluded by stating that the work they are doing now is simply a continuation of what they’ve always done: “To follow the call of Jesus to help make sure that all of his children have the chance to see their hopes and dreams come true.”
Sister Simone Campbell of the Sisters of Social Justice, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Biden, spoke about the president’s “consistent faith” that motivated him to honor her for her service to those in need.
In the rally’s Q&A session, which was closed to the public, Campbell acknowledged the heavy focus on “Catholics and abortion,” a topic that visibly frustrated her. “It drives me nuts, drives me nuts!” she exclaimed.
“Our faith does not require the outlawing of abortions,” she said, arguing that Catholicism teaches the protection of life while also trusting individuals to make decisions based on their well-formed consciences. “In this case, for her wellbeing,” she added.
Maybe Campbell should read her own Church’s catechism (CCC #2273):
“The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being’s right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death.”
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.