CatholicVote, a prominent Catholic advocacy group, issued a stark warning to church leadership and voters, asserting that Vice President Kamala Harris' policy positions pose a significant threat to Catholic values and institutions, The Daily Caller reported Wednesday.
In a memo released Wednesday to several Catholic organizations and "all people of Good Will," CatholicVote President Brian Burch warned that Harris' "anti-Catholic" agenda represents a "clear and present danger" to the Catholic community and all church-affiliated organizations.
Burch outlined concerns over Harris' stance on abortion and her treatment of Catholic judicial nominees. He described Harris' support for abortion rights as "real harm" to Americans, particularly Catholics, who uphold the sanctity of life.
It highlights her opposition to two key legislative measures: one that would restrict abortions after a baby can feel pain and another that ensures medical care for infants born alive following failed abortion attempts. Harris, who is the first sitting vice president to campaign at an abortion clinic, which she did in March, has been at the forefront of advocating for so-called reproductive rights.
"We write to warn you — our shepherds, priests, religious, Catholic brothers and sisters, and all people of good will — that Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, represent a ‘clear and present danger' to practicing Catholics and all Church-sponsored institutions that are, and seek to remain, faithful to the Church's teachings," the memo stated.
CatholicVote's concerns extend beyond Harris' abortion stance. The memo accused her of a pattern of hostility toward Catholic beliefs, citing an incident in 2018 when she questioned federal judicial nominee Brian Buescher about his membership in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization with an anti-abortion stance.
Harris' line of questioning, the memo argued, suggested that adherence to Catholic doctrine could disqualify someone from public service.
The memo also noted the increase in acts of violence and vandalism against Catholic institutions since the Supreme Court's decision to end federal protections for abortion in June 2022, a ruling celebrated by anti-abortion advocates but was met with backlash.
CatholicVote claims that nearly 300 such incidents have gone largely unpunished under the Biden-Harris administration, while anti-abortion activists have faced legal action for protesting at abortion facilities.
"The church does not take a formal position on candidates specifically, and so it asks Catholics to properly form their consciences in light of facts and in light of moral principles, and our memo seeks to help Catholics connect those dots," Burch wrote. He urged voters to consider which candidate poses a greater threat to Catholic values and the common good.
Burch also stressed that the group's opposition to Harris is not limited to religious grounds, arguing the moral beliefs held by Catholics are universally applicable.
"Catholic moral beliefs are not unique to Catholics," he wrote. "They apply to all human persons. The threat she poses to Catholics is not limited to us. They are threats to every American of decency and goodwill."
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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