Joshua Bennett
Kamala Harris is an American politician who served as the Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025. Harris has a multi-religious identity, with a Christian father and a Hindu mother, and attended both Hindu and Christian services as a child. Harris is in an interfaith marriage with Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish. Harris has celebrated Jewish traditions and customs with her husband, such as smashing a glass at their wedding and hosting Rosh Hashanah and Passover gatherings. She has also been connected to Baptist churches and has used parallels between her political goals and Christian faith. However, Harris has faced criticism from Catholics for promoting abortion, scrutinizing Catholic judicial nominees, and opposing pro-life pregnancy centers. So, while Harris may have some connection to Catholicism through her interfaith background, her personal beliefs and policies do not align with Catholic doctrine on certain issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Christian, Hindu, Jewish |
| Faith | Faith is a verb, not a noun |
| Religious upbringing | Attended a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple as a child |
| Religious practices | Prays every day, sometimes twice a day |
| Religious texts | Uses a Bible for swearing-in ceremonies |
| Religious influences | Mother was Hindu, father was Christian |
| Interfaith marriage | Married to Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish |
| Religious tolerance | Shares and celebrates Jewish traditions with her husband, and has hosted Rosh Hashanah and Passover gatherings |
| Political stance on abortion | Has consistently promoted abortion and scrutinized Catholic judicial nominees |
| Political stance on gender | Has embraced gender ideology, transgender rights, and contraception mandates |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris' multi-religious identity
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has a multi-religious identity. Harris, who is married to Doug Emhoff, is in an interfaith relationship. Her mother was Hindu, and her father was Christian. Harris grew up attending services at a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple. She has shared that her "faith journey" started when she was young, and she continues to pray "every day—sometimes twice a day".
Harris's multi-religious identity reflects the religious diversity of modern America. Her religious background has influenced her political career, including her roles in the Senate and as Vice President. She has shown an ability to navigate various religious traditions, connecting with people of different faiths.
Harris's religious biography is history-making and connects her to how many Americans practice and encounter faith. Her experience reflects the increasing religious diversity and interfaith dynamics of American families. Harris's stepdaughter, Ella, for example, has made it clear that she is not Jewish, reflecting the preference of children to choose their religious identity.
As Vice President, Harris has promoted abortion rights, scrutinized Catholic judicial nominees, and opposed pro-life pregnancy centers and activists. Her actions have, at times, been seen as jeopardizing religious freedom. Harris has also embraced gender ideology and supported transgender rights, which has further fueled debates around religious freedom.
Harris's multi-religious identity has been a significant aspect of her personal and political life, shaping her perspectives and connections with the American people.
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Harris' stance on abortion
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has a multi-religious identity. She was raised attending services at a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish. Harris has spoken about her interfaith background and how it has influenced her role in the Senate and as Vice President.
Now, let's focus on Harris's stance on abortion:
Kamala Harris has been an outspoken advocate for abortion rights and has made it a key part of her campaign for the presidency. She has criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the national right to abortion. Harris has vowed to sign into law a bill restoring national abortion rights if she becomes president. She has also promised to take bold action to ensure everyone can access abortion care and to remove discriminatory barriers to abortion services.
Harris's stance on abortion is in line with the Democratic Party's position, and her frankness on the issue has been well-received by voters, particularly in states with strict abortion policies. Her focus on the link between abortion rights and women's health care has the potential to energize voters and could be a winning strategy in the upcoming election.
Since the Dobbs decision, there has been a groundswell of public support for abortion rights, and Harris intends to capitalize on this momentum. She has promised to call for and sign legislation that codifies abortion rights, invalidates state bans, and ends restrictions on abortion care. Harris's campaign promises include ensuring that everyone, regardless of their personal circumstances, has access to abortion services if needed.
Experts believe that Harris's emphasis on abortion rights and her ability to connect it to the broader conversation about women's health care have made the issue more prominent in national politics. Her willingness to address abortion rights unapologetically has elevated the topic and could force the Republican Party to address it more directly.
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Scrutinizing Catholic judicial nominees
The religious beliefs of judicial nominees have been a topic of scrutiny in American politics, with some nominees facing questions about how their faith may influence their judicial decisions. This issue has come to the forefront in recent years, particularly with the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals by then-President Trump in 2017.
During her confirmation hearing, Barrett, a Catholic, faced intense scrutiny from Democratic senators, including Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who stated, "When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you... And that's of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for, for years in this country." Feinstein's comments sparked debate, with some accusing Democrats of anti-Catholic bias and questioning the suitability of Catholic judges for certain cases.
However, defenders of the senators' line of questioning argue that it is not anti-Catholic to question how a nominee's religious beliefs may impact their ability to rule impartially on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, which are protected by constitutional rights. This distinction is made evident when comparing Catholic politicians in the Democratic Party, who have generally abandoned Church teachings on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, to those who actively uphold these teachings, such as Barrett.
The issue of religious scrutiny is not limited to Amy Coney Barrett, as other judicial nominees with Catholic affiliations have faced similar questioning. For instance, Brian Buescher, nominated for a federal district judge position in Nebraska, was questioned by Senator Kamala Harris about his membership in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization. Harris and other senators insinuated that Buescher's affiliation with the Knights, an all-male society with pro-life and pro-marriage views, conflicted with his ability to serve impartially on the bench.
The scrutiny of Catholic judicial nominees has sparked debates about the role of religion in judicial appointments and the potential impact of personal beliefs on judicial rulings. While some argue that religious beliefs should be scrutinized to ensure impartiality, others criticize what they see as anti-Catholic bias and an improper focus on personal faith over qualifications and legal interpretations.
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Harris' interfaith relationship with Doug Emhoff
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, is in an interfaith relationship with her husband, Doug Emhoff. Harris, who considers herself a Christian and was raised with Christian and Hindu influences, is a product of an interfaith marriage herself. Her mother was Hindu, and her father was Christian. Harris grew up attending services at a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple.
Doug Emhoff, on the other hand, is Jewish. At their wedding, Harris and Emhoff broke the glass and Emhoff wore a flower garland to honour each other's religious traditions. They also share "Jewish traditions and celebrations" at home, such as nailing a mezuzah to their front doorpost and hosting Rosh Hashanah gatherings and a Passover Seder. Emhoff's children from a previous marriage, Cole and Ella, are also Jewish.
Harris's interfaith relationship with Emhoff reflects the religious diversity of many Americans and has influenced her role as a senator and vice president. Their marriage showcases a beautiful blend of cultural and faith backgrounds, with Emhoff's Instagram posts highlighting their love and support for each other.
The couple has received scrutiny and attention as the first Jewish Second Family in the White House, but they have also been celebrated as #InterfaithRelationshipGoals. Their relationship normalises interfaith marriages and showcases the beauty of intersectionality and shared traditions.
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Harris' religious upbringing
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has a multi-religious identity. Harris's mother was Hindu, and her father was Christian. Growing up, she attended services at a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple. Harris has described her faith journey as starting when she was young. She has fond memories of her mother dressing her and her sister in their "Sunday best" and sending them off to the 23rd Avenue Church of God in Oakland, California, where she and her sister sang in the children's choir. Harris has also spoken about how church has been a place where she "draws strength" and reflects.
Harris met her husband, Doug Emhoff, on a blind date in 2013, and they married a year later. She is a stepmother to Emhoff's two children from a previous relationship. The couple has a Jewish household, nailing a mezuzah to their front doorpost at their residence on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory, where they also hosted Rosh Hashanah gatherings and a Passover Seder. They also smashed a glass as part of the traditional Jewish custom at their wedding. Harris has stated that she shares "Jewish traditions and celebrations" with her husband at home.
Harris's religious upbringing and her interfaith relationship have influenced her views on women's reproductive rights. In July 2022, she held a roundtable meeting with faith leaders in Los Angeles to discuss the importance of women's healthcare decisions without government interference. Harris's beliefs have also influenced her roles in the Senate and as Vice President.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Kamala Harris is not a practicing Catholic. Harris was raised by a Hindu mother and a Christian father and attended both Hindu and Christian services as a child. She has since been involved in interfaith practices with her husband, Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish.
Kamala Harris was raised attending services at a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple. She has since participated in Jewish traditions and celebrations with her husband, such as smashing a glass at their wedding and hosting Rosh Hashanah and Passover gatherings at their residence.
Yes, Harris has spoken about her "faith journey," which began when she was young and attended church with her mother and sister. She has said that faith is "a verb" and that "we must live it, and show it, in action."
Yes, Harris' faith has influenced her role as Vice President and her time in the Senate. She has used parallels between her faith and her political goals, such as referencing the Bible in her speeches. Additionally, her interfaith identity has given her credibility and ease when navigating various religious traditions.
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