Millions of people from all around the world tuned in to watch Donald Trump take office as the 47th President of the United States of America. A speech that was delivered during the inaugural prayer service at Washington’s National Cathedral has taken center stage as one of the many activities that have been held to commemorate the occasion. Bishop Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Church made several remarks that were not only unexpected but also thought-provoking. She addressed subjects that many people did not anticipate hearing in such a venue.
A series of pointed requests were made by Bishop Budde during her fifteen-minute lecture, which was directed directly at President Trump. She said, “Let me make one final plea, Mr. President,” as she was nearing the end of her sermon. Numerous millions of people have placed their faith in you. You have experienced the providential hand of a God who is kind, as you described to the country the day before. I beseech you, in the name of our God, to show compassion on the terror-stricken citizens of our nation at this time. At this very moment, it seemed as though she was directing her eyes forward toward the president.
Rather than avoiding addressing the issues that marginalized groups face, Budde did not shy away from doing so. “Fear for their lives” was the phrase that she used when she spoke of gay, lesbian, and transgender youth all around the country. Through her comments, it appeared as though she acknowledged the worry that exists within the LGBTQIA+ community regarding the administration of Trump.
It was a day after President Trump announced a series of executive orders that have already been met with opposition when the sermon was delivered. Some of these measures included rescinding birthright citizenship, declaring a national emergency at the southern border, and acknowledging the biological differences that exist between men and women. Taking a direct approach to these efforts, Budde discussed the contributions that immigrants have made to the nation.
It is possible that the individuals who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who work in poultry farms and meat packing facilities, who wash the dishes after we dine in restaurants, and who work the night shifts in hospitals are not citizens or do not have the appropriate papers could be considered illegal. However, the vast majority of immigrants do not engage in criminal activity. In addition to being a good neighbor, they pay their taxes,” she remarked.
When it comes to publicly criticizing President Trump, Bishop Budde is no stranger. After law enforcement had used chemical agents to disperse demonstrators for racial justice, she became a national figure in the year 2020 when she posed for a photograph outside of a boarded-up St. John’s Episcopal Church while holding a Bible. Budde made the following statement at the time: “Everything he has said and done is to inflame violence… We require moral leadership, and he has done all in his power to drive a wedge between us.
Other reactions were less reserved than President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s, who both kept neutral expressions throughout the lecture. One of the Republican representatives from Georgia, Mike Collins, turned to social media to make the following statement: “The individual who is delivering this sermon ought to be added to the list of illegal immigrants.”
“I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away,” Budde resumed her pleading in the final moments of her presentation. “I ask you to have mercy on children.” And that you assist those individuals who are escaping war zones and persecution in their own countries in discovering compassion and a sense of welcome here that they can find. Since we were all once foreigners in this place, our God instructs us to show mercy to those who are unfamiliar with us.
A quick and dismissive remark was given by Trump when he was asked about his opinions on the sermon. “I didn’t think it was a good service,” he said when he was speaking to reporters from the news organization.
If you attended the inaugural prayer service for President Trump, what were your thoughts on the sermon that Bishop Mariann Budde delivered? We would appreciate it if you could tell us what you think about this tale.