"I am not going to apologize for asking for mercy for others.

~ Mariann Budde

#Trump #BishopBudde #mercy #morality
/12

https://time.com/7209222/bishop-mariann-budde-trump/

As he reminds us that there's a long history in the US of religious leaders calling out presidents, John Nichols says,

"Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who stirred the wrath of Donald Trump and his conservative allies this week with a National Prayer Service homily that urged the newly inaugurated president “to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” speaks a reflective and compassionate language of faith.

#Trump #BishopBudde #mercy #morality
/11

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/mariann-budde-trump-sermon-reaction/

"Remember this moment. Remember that asking for mercy toward scared children and immigrants was enough to trigger a full-scale campaign of intimidation from the highest levels of government and media. Remember that a sitting congressman suggested deporting an American citizen for the crime of asking the president to be kind."

#Trump #BishopBudde #mercy #morality
/10

"Right-wing media launched an all-out assault on Budde that revealed exactly how power plans to deal with dissent in Trump's second term. …

All of this—the full machinery of right-wing outrage—deployed against a religious leader who simply asked for kindness toward vulnerable people. The disproportionate response tells us exactly what we're dealing with."

~ Parker Molloy

#Trump #BishopBudde #mercy #morality
/9

https://www.readtpa.com/p/the-price-of-speaking-up-in-trumps

Jennifer Rubin notes that a number of other US and world religious leaders have also spoken out about what Trump and the Republicans are doing, and concludes,

"Trump’s actions are not just lawless; they defy our deepest religious values."

https://contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-actions-are-not-just-lawless

And John Pavolvitz calls on other religious leaders to defend Bishop Budde and speak out.

https://johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/dont-let-bishop-budde-stand-alone

#Trump #BishopBudde #mercy #morality
/2

Elizabeth Dias looks at the courageous decision of Episcopal bishop Mariann Budde to speak truth to power in a sermon confronting Trump to his face, and sees two versions of US Christianity confronting each other:

"In a flash, the war over spiritual authority in America burst into a rare public showdown.

The Canterbury Pulpit confronted the bully pulpit on the greatest possible stage."

#Trump #BishopBudde #mercy
/1

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/us/trump-bishop-plea.html?unlocked_article_code=1.rU4.vZzH.i84XXtgL9kFw&smid=url-share

Bishop Budde made waves this week when she spoke directly to Trump during her Inauguration sermon.

She urged him to have mercy on those who fear for their lives under his administration.

She spoke of compassion for the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities he seems intent on destroying.

He of course lashed out, demanding an apology and calling her names.

Make no mistake, what she did was an act of bravery. For a few minutes she had a considerable platform, and she used it to speak up for those who can’t speak up for themselves.

She stood up to the bully. She showed us all what it means to be an ally.

Did you know she also provided a final resting place for Matthew Shepard, who was murdered in a gay hate crime at the age of 21?

He was interred at the Washington National Cathedral in a service she presided over after having no permanent resting place for years due to concerns his grave would be vandalized.

Look for the helpers. They’re still out there. They may not be as loud as the bullies but they’re quietly working to protect as many people as possible. To share messages of love and inclusion. To build community. To stand up to hate.

https://www.matthewshepard.org/matthew-shepard-to-be-interred-at-washington-national-cathedral/

#bishopbudde #MatthewShepard #uspoli #lgbtq #LQBTQIA #trump

"Donald #Trump may have spent his first days in office granting indulgences to the violent rioters who sacked the Capitol on #Jan6, but God forbid he be asked to show #mercy to the marginalized groups he plans to scapegoat as president.

...the president demanded an apology from Bishop #MariannBudde ... after Budde pleaded with Trump to “have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” & to “honor the dignity of every human being”"
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-demands-apology-bishop-mariann-edgar-budde-1235243342/

#BishopBudde #USA #News