Bill Donohue, the Catholic League President, has stated that Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party are the “anti-Christian” party. Donohue also claimed that every Catholic he knew was voting for former President Donald Trump, even though they were lifelong Democrats.
These comments come as Harris and Trump battle for the Christian vote in their bid for the White House.
The Democratic Party Is Pushing Christians Away?
In a recent phone interview, Donohue claimed that the Democratic Party was pushing away the religious vote, as they didn’t want it. As a result, many Democrat Christians have chosen to vote for Republicans and Trump.
He said, “They’re anti-Christian, and it’s driving people out.”
Why Catholics Are Turning Republican
Donohue explained this political switch has occurred for a variety of reasons, in his own opinion.
“And the guys I’m talking to, it’s not even so much abortion. It’s just they feel like they don’t speak their language anymore. This whole idea of letting men compete against women in sports abuses the bathrooms, they think they’ve just gone off the deep end,” he stated.
Changing Political Landscapes
Donohue then added that Catholics such as him have increasingly felt politically homeless because of policies in the past.
He explained, “Everybody was a Democrat. All Catholics were Democrats. That didn’t shift until really late ‘60s, early ’70s, certainly by the time ‘72, when McGovern was running against Nixon. And people said, ‘wait a minute.’ But then Catholics felt homeless, because the Republicans never wanted the Catholics. The Republicans were always the party of abortion.”
Lifelong Democrats Voting for Trump
All of this analysis has led Donohue to claim that every lifelong Democrat that he knows is now voting for Trump, rather than Harris, because of her alleged religious policies.
“Many of them have found a new anchor with the Republicans. And listen, the guys that I hang out with in my Irish Pub,” Donohue stated. “Every one of these guys are union guys, and many of them are retired. They’re all lifelong Democrats, and every single one of them are voting for Trump. Every single one of them are voting for Trump, because they say the Democrats have abandoned them.”
The Launch of Catholics for Trump
Donohue’s comments come after the “Catholics for Trump” campaign was launched, which has also attacked Harris and claimed that she doesn’t like Catholics.
Brian Burch, the president of CatholicVote, has said, “Kamala Harris hates Catholics and everything we hold sacred. We can’t pretend otherwise. Our institutions, families, culture and belief in the sanctity of all human life are the antithesis of her vision for America. Donald Trump and JD Vance — and now RFK — are the antidote to the ruling class that has destroyed our country.”
Fighting for the Religious Vote
These latest statements from two religious leaders in the Catholic community have further highlighted how conservatives are attempting to drive the religious vote away from Harris and toward Trump.
These comments also come on the heels of many Christian and Catholic organizations banning together to publicly support Harris.
Evangelicals for Harris
Most recently, an “Evangelicals for Harris” organization has launched. This group is making ads blasting Trump, claiming that he isn’t as religious as he likes to say he is.
The organization has publicly supported Harris for president. Many other leaders and organizations have also backed her, opposing Trump completely.
Harris vs Trump
When it comes to the religious vote, some analysts have stated that new polling suggests that Harris may do better than anticipated — even with these recent comments by Catholic leaders.
However, Trump overwhelmingly has the support of the white evangelical vote.
Religion Becomes a Focal Point in the Election
Recently, religion has become more of a focal point in this election, particularly after President Joe Biden, a Catholic, has dropped out.
The Trump campaign has increasingly tried to state that Harris is anti-Christian, while Harris supporters have insinuated that Trump is pushing a Christian nationalist agenda.
Trump’s Comments to Christians
Trump has made more than a few odd comments to his Christian followers in recent weeks — comments that his supporters have blown off as nothing serious.
For example, Trump told a crowd of Christian supporters that if they voted for him in this upcoming election, they would never have to vote again. Critics have claimed this comment echoes his previous statements on how he would be a dictator on “day one.”
The Fight Over Abortion
Meanwhile, the fight over abortion and state rights continues after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Harris has always aligned herself with the pro-choice movement, which has long angered many strict Christians who are pro-life.
Trump and religious leaders have also claimed her abortion views are why Christians shouldn’t vote for her.
