The Catholics for Harris campaign held its second virtual rally on October 23, featuring two speakers who argued that Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, hold deeply Catholic principles.
Catholics for Harris held its first virtual event in September, with significantly more speakers in attendance, CatholicVote reported.
Alex Nason, a Democrat who has worked for the Irish government and the Arab League, appeared again as the event’s master of ceremonies. Nason welcomed attendees gathered “as a community, united by our shared faith and a deep commitment to the values at the heart of Catholic teaching,” and reminded listeners that as Catholics, “we are called to uphold the dignity of every person, promote the common good, and care for those who are most vulnerable.”
These values, according to Nason, are reflected in the “core tenets” of the Harris-Walz campaign.
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Reminding attendees of the “very real threat” of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s potential acts if he is reelected, Nason argued that it is time to “turn the page” on the former president’s “destructive policies.”
“As Catholic voters, we know we are not monolithic,” Nason continued. “Our strength is in our diversity of thought.”
Nason introduced an “exciting lineup of speakers who represent the full breadth of our community, from different walks of life, diverse backgrounds, and unique lived experiences,” each of whom could share “a powerful perspective, shaped by their personal journey, their faith, and their commitment to our shared values.”
The lineup included Adrienne Alexander, director of intergovernmental affairs for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Matthew Nichols, a college student at Catholic University of America.
Alexander, a “proud Catholic,” shared with listeners that for her, the choice of who to vote for in this election is simple, particularly considering “labor issues.” Trump, according to Alexander, routinely “demeans” workers. She highlighted that the Harris-Walz campaign “has a union member on the ticket.”
“But this goes deeper than my job,” Alexander told attendees. “As a black woman and a mom of three girls, I care deeply about the work that the vice president has done on maternal health.”
“[W]e shouldn’t accept that black women, regardless of their social and economic status, are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as white women,” Alexander continued. “I chose a candidate that is interested in expanding healthcare and making it more affordable to raise kids in the country, not the one who wants to reduce access.”
“And that’s really what this election is about,” she added.
Nichols, who said his faith “has always been the most important part” of his identity, spoke about the importance of the sense of community felt by Catholics all over the world since they share the same core values.
“I have found that same sense of community and those same core values in Vice President Harris and Tim Walz,” Nichols told listeners.
“When looking at both sides, I’ve been able to see that the teachings of our faith are clear in the policies of Vice President Harris and Governor Walz,” he added.
Walz has been accused of faking parts of his military record, as CatholicVote previously reported. Veterans who served with Walz recently accused the vice presidential candidate of being a “liar” who lacked “loyalty” and “integrity” in his service.
Nichols continued to highlight the importance of addressing the “climate crisis,” citing Harris’ position on the issue as a reflection of the Catholic duty to care for God’s creation.
“I feel that the Harris-Wallz ticket shares in the urgency of the moment,” he said. “They are taking this seriously, committing to investing in clean energy and fighting for real environmental change.”
Nichols said that the most common defense he has heard from Catholics who support Trump is that the Republican candidate is “pro-life and pro-family.”
“And that’s just not true,” Nichols said. “If he were pro-life, you wouldn’t be ambiguous on his stance on certain issues. And instead he would tell us what he thinks instead of what he thinks will get more votes.”
As CatholicVote has previously reported, Harris is a vocal supporter of abortion-on-demand and has a history of attacking pro-life pregnancy centers. She has called for taxpayer funding for abortion.
“Being pro-life is more complex than just focusing on a single issue,” Nichols said. “It means respecting the dignity of immigrants, providing quality, affordable, and accessible health care, and a commitment to the dignity of life from conception to natural death.”
Nichols claimed Trump doesn’t do these things, citing his immigration policies as “just inhumane” and “not Catholic.”
In contrast, according to Nichols, Harris “understands the dignity of the human person.”
“We deserve a president and vice president who truly understand the values tied to the Church and to our faith,” Nichols said.
According to Nichols, the faithful Catholics of the United States need to “work within these narrow margins and be the difference maker” in the upcoming November election.
Nason dedicated the remaining five minutes of the event to outlining the assistance the Catholics for Harris campaign needs.
LifeNews Note: Rachel Quackenbush writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.
