The Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, delivered a powerful sermon at the National Cathedral prayer service in Washington on Tuesday. In her address, she made a poignant appeal to President Donald Trump, urging him to "have mercy upon" vulnerable groups, including immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals. Her words have sparked a heated response from the President, who labeled the service as "boring" and "uninspiring," further asserting that Budde and her church "owe the public an apology."
Despite the backlash, Budde remains resolute in her stance. Over 30,000 individuals have signed a petition supporting her sermon as of Thursday morning. The petition praises her words as "courageous" and "faith-filled," highlighting the importance of her message as "the prophetic voice we desperately need right now." Budde emphasized the necessity of her message during what she described as a "particularly harsh moment" in public discourse regarding immigrant populations.
“I don’t hate the president, and I pray for him.” – Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde
In her sermon, Budde directly addressed President Trump, urging compassion for "gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families." She also spoke about the struggles faced by immigrants and those fleeing war and persecution. Budde felt that her sermon offered a much-needed perspective of Christianity that has been muted in public discussion.
“I don’t feel there’s a need to apologize for a request for mercy.” – Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde
President Trump's reaction was swift, using social media to criticize Budde as a "Radical Left hard line Trump hater." He accused her of bringing her church into politics in an "ungracious way." Despite this characterization, Budde maintains that she does not harbor hatred toward the President and continues to pray for him.
“I regret that it was something that has caused the kind of response that it has, in the sense that it actually confirmed the very thing that I was speaking of earlier, which is our tendency to jump to outrage and not speak to one another with respect.” – Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde
Budde's sermon resonated with many who appreciated her call for "dignity, respecting dignity, honesty, humility and kindness." Her intention was to initiate a different kind of conversation, one that transcends partisan divides and focuses on empathy and understanding. She expressed her hope that these values would resonate with people across different walks of life.
“But no, I won’t apologize for what I said.” – Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde
The support for Budde's message was evident from the widespread petition backing her sermon. Many have expressed gratitude towards Budde for articulating a perspective they believe is crucial during these challenging times. Her message aimed to offer a voice of compassion and understanding at a time when such conversations are often sidelined.
“to encourage a different kind of conversation” – Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde