Washington, DC Newsroom, November 1, 2024 / 7:00 p.m.
With only days left until November 5th, the president of the Heritage Foundation, an influential conservative think tank, is urging people of faith to vote.
Kevin Roberts addressed the expected crisis of nonvoters among people of faith in the United States in an interview with EWTN News Nightly host Tracy Sabol on Friday. This discussion was conducted from the following perspectives. recent research A poll by Arizona Christian University found that only 51% of people of faith plan to vote in the presidential election.
Nearly 70% of survey participants said they were no longer interested in politics or elections, and nearly 60% said they disliked all major candidates. Additionally, about half of participants said neither candidate expressed their opinion and believed their vote would not make a difference one way or the other. Also, nearly 50% said they believed the election results would be manipulated.
“I’m not surprised by this result, although I would like to say that I would have been a year ago,” he told Sabol, adding that even though there is a “moral obligation” among people of faith to He explained that it is common for people not to vote. So. “
Roberts emphasized the “importance of research,” noting that Catholics and other Christian voters tend to abstain from voting because they dislike both candidates.[ing] problem. ”
“As people of faith, we must weigh the policy record and understand it as it applies to the future. [Vice President Kamala Harris] “If we win, we will see a threat to religious freedom,” he said. “We will face threats to our ability to worship. Of course, we will continue to pray for her as president of the United States.”
“But we really need to consider that in the coming days,” Roberts added. “Especially when Catholics and other Christians think they might just stay home,” he added.
filibuster, freedom of religion, freedom of speech
Roberts also addressed the issue during Friday morning’s roundtable, highlighting a number of policy issues that directly concern people of faith, including religious freedom, the pro-life movement, and free speech.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to claim that Vice President Harris is the most anti-faith, anti-religious presidential candidate in our country’s history,” the conservative policy leader said, adding: We will lose the ability to worship. If the Harris-Waltz movement prevails, we will lose our religious freedom. ”
Asked what would happen if Harris wins the election and succeeds in eliminating the filibuster in order to codify Roe v. Wade, Roberts said that in addition to expanding abortion, the measure would “protect religious freedom. It would result in a “real retrenchment” and freedom of speech.
In the past few weeks alone, Roberts has spoken out about Harris’ refusal to support religious exemptions on abortion, and about Harris’ “attending the wrong gathering” after two Christians shouted: He cited notable incidents of religious intolerance, including an incident in which he said, Jesus was Lord. Video shows other protesters also shouting “Lies!” “Liar!” he said to Harris before she could respond.
“Obviously, this is a serious problem for non-believers as well, because if you take away our first freedom, the freedom to believe and worship as we do, then all other because their freedom is at risk.”
He said if Democrats regain a slim majority in the Senate, there is “a 100% chance they will try to eliminate the filibuster” and have a good chance of success.
“I really believe that, because there’s evidence of that in what has been said over the last four to six weeks,” Roberts said. “They’re trying to curtail free speech. They’re trying to curtail free speech for people of faith. They’re trying to curtail free speech for organizations and news organizations.”
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Roberts said that if the Democratic Party fails to secure a majority and Harris is elected, the current vice president could enact policies that violate religious freedom through executive orders that expand access to abortion and target people of faith. He said it is likely.
“I think she’s going to focus on religious freedom,” he said.
Cooperation with Trump policy
Despite concerns about former President Donald Trump’s stance on pro-life issues such as abortion and IVF, Roberts is “cautiously optimistic” that the Trump-Vance administration will “remain resolutely pro-life.” He said there is.
“I think people of faith need to remember the former president’s record on this matter,” he said. “We need to remember that if President Trump and Sen. Vance are elected next Tuesday, the chances are much, much greater.” You have the opportunity to work with them and the people they appoint on issues. ”
“I think, by contrast, in a Harris-Waltz administration, there’s a zero percent chance of getting that opportunity when it comes to abortion,” he said. [and] About religious freedom. People of faith need to keep that in mind. ”
Madalaine Eljabar is a staff reporter for Catholic News Agency based in EWTN’s Washington, D.C., bureau. She is published by CatholicVote and also worked as a foreign language assistant in France. She is a graduate of Benedictine College.
