Today’s Hero

Episcopalian Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde from the Washington DC Diocese spoke her truth to President Donald Trump. She did the speaking at a post inaugeration service for the President and his guests.

“They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, guara, and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.”

She said that from her pulpit and directly to the President who was sitting just in front of her. Bishop Budde was later interviewed on MSNBC and was asked why she made that plea?

“At the end, toward the end of my preparation, the pillars of unity, it struck me that I, that I was missing one. And that one, that last one was mercy. To have mercy and compassion. And rather than stated in sweeping turns, I thought I would acknowledge to the president, acknowledged that he had come to the highest office of the land, that he had millions of people had entrusted him with his power. And I wanted to make, as you heard, a, a plea, a request that he broadened his characterization of the people that are, are frightened now and are at risk of losing everything.”

The Bishop says she was trying hard to present her truth in a respectful way.

“And also to appeal to not only the president, but to all who might be listening, to appeal to what we know to be true about our immigrant neighbors, who they are, the kind of people that we're blessed to be among, and to remember them in our understanding of what it means to America.”

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde says it should be the role of religion in today’s political climate to set an example.

“You know, to take the teachings of our faith to welcome the stranger, to love us. We've been loved, to be compassionate and to live that out in, in real terms, with real people in our communities. So that's, that's foundational. And then when given the opportunity to speak, to speak and to be at times a conscience and other times a consolation to be present, ministering or pastoring the common Good.”

Trump responded by calling the Bishop a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater” who is “not very good at her job.” Most reaction from Americans has been positive. She’s been called brave for calling him out on immigration.

“It is also an audacious thing to address anyone directly in from the pulpit. I typically do that for weddings. You know, when you talk to a couple for, do you know what I mean? For at funerals, you talk to the, you know, to the family you're seeking to console. This was a service of prayer for unity for the country, but it was on the occasion of the inauguration of a president. And if you go back to other sermons in those moments, there's almost always a word to the president. So it wasn't unusual in that way, but in the particular moment we're in it, it filled a space that hadn't been occupied for a while.”

That’s the space left open by those who disagree with the Trump immigration policy but have not said anything about it. But for those who want immigrants kicked out of the country, their death threats are aimed at the Bishop.

“I've had people wish me dead. I'm not sure they've threatened to kill me, but they seem to be pleased if I met my eternal destiny sooner rather than later. And I would simply say I, you know, I was trying actually to encourage a different kind of conversation that you can certainly disagree with me. You can disagree what I've said or did, but could we as Americans and fellow children of God speak to one another with respect? I would offer the same to you. I would, I would listen to your views and I would honor them, but we can, we don't have to go to the highest extremes of contempt when we are in a position of, of disagreement. And I think if we could get that back as a country, we would go a long way in being able to work together.”

Bishop Maryann Edgar Budde has refused Trump’s demand that she issue an apology for this statement.

“I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.“

Today’s hero has refused to apologize.