Sunny Hostin thanked her co-hosts on ABC’s “The View” for helping to teach her that it wasn’t right for her to tell other people it was wrong to have abortions.
Hostin, who is Catholic, has often said that she personally believes that life begins at conception and abortion is wrong — but she also believes that she does not have the right to tell other women what they should or should not do. That position, she said on Thursday’s broadcast, she largely attributes to her time on the midday talk show.
The conversation began with co-host Whoopi Goldberg responding to a comment from Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) — namely that Tester claimed he didn’t know where President Joe Biden stood on the issue of abortion.
“We do know where Biden stands. He’s a Roman Catholic. He does not believe in abortion, but he’s the President of the whole United States, and so he is governing as the president. That’s where he stands. That’s where a lot of folks stand,” Goldberg said, and the audience applauded.
“And that’s actually – thank you, Whoopi. That’s what I was going to say,” Hostin replied.
“I mean, there is that wonderful thing in our country called the separation of church and state, right?” Hostin continued. “Remember that? That’s something that I learned about in law school, and that I think most people know about, and I myself am also a Roman Catholic, a proud Roman Catholic. I’ve said it many, many times.”
“You ladies have taught me so much when it comes to my position on abortion. I came in on this show five years ago saying I am pro-life, and anyone who has an abortion is wrong and they’re killing babies,” Hostin said. “That was my position.”
She went on to explain just how her position had evolved since she first appeared on the show, adding, “My position now is I think it is wrong. I think life begins as conception. That is my faith. I am not going to make that judgment call for anyone else.”
The audience applauded again as Hostin concluded, “I have changed, and I’ve changed because you’ve taught me that.”