Kamala Harris and Mike Pence spar in VP debate: 'Joe Biden and I are both people of faith'
A screen capture of the vice presidential debate live streamed from Salt Lake City on Oct. 7, 2020.
Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris had a brief spat Wednesday about religious belief during their only debate before the November election.
In one question, Pence was asked about the newly announced nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
“President Trump and I could not be more enthusiastic about the opportunity to see Judge Amy Coney Barrett become Justice Amy Coney Barrett,” Pence said. “We particularly hope we don't see the kinds of attacks on her Christian faith we saw before. The Democrat chairman of the judiciary committee before -- when Judge Barrett was being confirmed for the Court of Appeals -- expressed concern that 'the dogma of her faith lived loudly in her.’”
The Democrat that Pence was referring to was Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who claimed in 2017 that religious convictions on morality were an impediment to the proper implementation of the law.
“Why is it that so many of us on this side have this very uncomfortable feeling that dogma and law are two different things, and I think whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different,” Feinstein said. “And I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. And that’s of concern.”
Pence also brought up Harris’s own comments about religious faith, specifically the Catholic beliefs espoused by the nationwide service organization, Knights of Columbus (KOC).
“Senator, I know that one of our judicial nominees you actually attacked because they were a member of the Catholic Knights of Columbus, just because the Knights of Columbus holds pro-life views,” Pence said.
Pence was referring to the judicial confirmation of Brian Buescher, a Catholic and a member of the KOC since the age of 18. Harris questioned Buescher’s membership in the organization, and called the KOC’s Catholic beliefs “extreme.”
“The Knights of Columbus has taken a number of extreme positions,” Harris said in December of 2018 while interviewing Buescher.
Harris implied that resignation from the social organization would be advisable, asking, “If confirmed, do you intend to end your membership with this organization to avoid any appearance of bias?”
During the debate, Harris took issue with Pence’s remarks, said she would always support a woman’s right to choose in the context of abortion, and defended her and Biden’s own spiritual lives. Harris has not made her faith central to her public persona like Pence has, but she has emphasized her mixed upbringing in a Black baptist church and attending Hindu temple. At the debate, she also emphasized Biden’s own Catholic identity.
“Joe Biden and I are both people of faith,” she said. “And it's insulting to suggest that we would knock anyone for their faith. In fact, Joe, if elected, will be only the second practicing Catholic as president of the United States.”
Biden has made his Catholic identity a central aspect of his campaign, referencing his religion as a guiding force in his decision-making.
In the first presidential debate, Biden accused President Donald Trump of being bigoted towards “Irish-Catholics.”
"Like so many people, my faith has been the bedrock foundation of my life: it's provided me comfort in moments of loss and tragedy, it's kept me grounded and humbled in times of triumph and joy,” Biden writes on his website in an official statement on his faith.
The next debate will be between Biden and Trump and is scheduled for Oct. 15, though Trump’s recent battle with COVID-19 has some concerned it will be cancelled.
Timothy Nerozzi is a writer and editor from northeastern Pennsylvania. He covers religious issues with a focus on the Catholic Church and Japanese society and culture.