By Charles Igwe
Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed her stance against allowing religious exemptions in abortion laws, stating that the fundamental freedom of bodily autonomy should not be compromised. In a Tuesday interview with NBC News’ Hallie Jackson, Harris was asked whether she would consider concessions, such as religious exemptions, when shaping federal abortion laws. Harris firmly rejected the idea, emphasizing that decisions about a woman’s body are nonnegotiable.
Harris highlighted the importance of restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade, which were overturned during Donald Trump’s presidency. She stressed that women should be allowed to make decisions about their health in consultation with their doctors and faith leaders, without government interference.
When asked if she would extend an “olive branch” to moderate Republicans who support legal abortion but might disagree with some of her policies, Harris dismissed the notion, maintaining that the right to abortion should not be subject to compromise.
Harris’s stance is consistent with her previous legislative efforts. As a senator in 2019, she introduced the Do No Harm Act, which aimed to limit religious liberty exemptions for healthcare services mandated by federal law, including abortion and contraception. The bill, which failed to pass, would have prevented religious employers from opting out of covering healthcare services on moral or religious grounds.
Her opposition to religious liberty exemptions has also been mirrored in the Biden-Harris administration. In 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services introduced a rule requiring hospitals, including Catholic ones, to provide abortions in emergencies, which was later blocked by the courts.
Critics, such as Grazie Pozo Christie of The Catholic Association, argue that Harris’s position threatens religious freedoms, particularly for those who oppose abortion on moral or religious grounds. Nonetheless, Harris remains committed to codifying Roe v. Wade and ensuring abortion rights remain intact up to the point of viability.
