WATCH: Episcopal bishop asks Trump 'to have mercy' on LGBTQ+ communities and immigrants - PBS NewsHour

[Rhiannon12866]

The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C., implored newly inaugurated President Donald Trump on Tuesday "to have mercy upon" communities across the country "who are scared now" after his election.

"There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families — some who fear for their lives," Budde said during remarks at an interfaith prayer service at Washington National Cathedral with the president, Vice President JD Vance and their spouses in attendance.

She noted the work of many immigrants to the U.S. who pick crops, clean office buildings, work in the poultry and meatpacking industries and wash dishes in the hospitality field.

"They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals," Budde said. "They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches, mosques, gurdwara and temples."

Budde's comments come after Trump signed executive orders late Monday to declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and pushed for the end the use of an app that allowed migrants seeking asylum to request appointments with American border officials.

"Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land," Budde said before closing her remarks. - Aired on 01/21/2025.

[Ocelot II]

1. It will have fallen on deaf ears.

But I commend her courage. I just hope he won't ask, "Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?"

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Completely agree, courageous and appropriate statement. Just hope he didn't add her to his "enemies list."

[Ocelot II]

3. He doesn't have to.

He knows she'll be threatened and harassed by the MAGA cult.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Good point, that's what he does

[markpkessinger]

5. Bp. Budde has made me proud to be an Episcopalian today! n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Actually, same here! That took courage and she was so well spoken, too bad that TFG will simply dismiss her message

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. MaddowBlog-Following sermon, Trump and his allies target Episcopal bishop

Religion must be celebrated, protected and venerated, Trump apparently thinks — just so long as the faith community is telling him what he wants to hear.
https://bsky.app/profile/stevebenen.com/post/3lgdpbatbic27

Link to tweet

Donald Trump is not often forced to listen to those who disagree with him, and when the newly inaugurated president is confronted with his critics, he tends to unravel. The Republican’s debate meltdowns, for example, have become the stuff of legend......

Hours later, shortly after midnight, the president abandoned subtlety and published a far more forceful rebuke to his social media platform. It read in its entirety:

The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart. She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our Country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!

There’s no point in fact-checking every error of fact and judgment in the president’s online harangue. The Rev. Edgar Budde is not a “so-called” bishop; there is no “giant crime wave”; Trump’s line about “mental institutions” has long been ridiculous, etc.....

Take a moment to imagine what would happen if a progressive House Democrat called for an American religious leader to be kicked out of the country for delivering a sermon he or she disagreed with.

What’s more, whether Republicans appreciate this or not, the more they whined about the bishop’s sermon, the more likely it became that the public would hear what Budde had to say. The Streisand Effect is, after all, a real phenomenon.

Let’s also not forget that for many congressional Republicans, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, there was a Biden-era “scandal” about officials targeting and harassing religious leaders. It was nonsense, of course, though it’s hard not to notice that these same GOP leaders have far less to say about their allies targeting Budde......

The post-inaugural national prayer service, however, shed light on the limits of the president’s approach: Religion must be celebrated, protected, respected and venerated, Trump apparently thinks — just so long as the faith community is telling him what he wants to hear.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Good Grief! And this guy is selling Bibles?? Was this his first time in a church??

Her sermon addressed the foundations of Christianity... and democracy.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. I stand with her

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Wow! Same here!