By New York Post (Opinion) | Created at 2025-01-24 22:23:38 | Updated at 2025-01-26 06:12:21
1 day ago
The Issue: An Episcopalian bishop imploring President Trump to have mercy on vulnerable groups.
There are plenty of religious leaders who oppose President Trump (“Bishop’s ‘bully’ pulpit,” Jan. 22).
Exhibit A is Episcopalian Bishop Mariann Budde, who led the National Prayer at Washington Cathedral.
Yet I wonder why the ostensibly compassionate prelate failed to mention the migrant minors who have gone unaccounted for during former President Joe Biden’s administration?
And how could she give the silent treatment to the victims of crimes perpetrated by migrants?
Budde later capitalized on her speech in next-day appearances on CNN, The View and the Rachel Maddow Show — which suggests the whole appeal was politically motivated.
James Hyland
Beechhurst
Budde will be dining out for years on her unruly take on a prayer service — one that was supposed to bind a divisive polity together but instead came unglued.
As many progressive simps would have it, she felt compelled to call out the tens of millions of voters who had just watched their victorious candidate assume office.
Outrageous clergy are often loud, but she was so soft you could hear a pin drop into her bubble of self-assured Jabberwocky.
Only fellow travelers and pencil-necked media will find comfort in her faux liberation theology.
Paul Bloustein
Cincinnati, Ohio
What does Bishop Budde think about the some tens of thousands of children who, through illegal immigration, are essentially missing?
There is a non-zero chance some of these children have wound up in exploitative situations.
And what does she think about the victims of murder, rape, forced occupancy and physical abuse and the deaths from drug overdoses that are side-effects of this crisis?
Al DiLascia
Chicopee
I believe we have reached the point where some words simply don’t matter.
Budde’s rant at the National Cathedral’s Inaugural Prayer Service was indeed unfortunate.
But increasingly people in our country are listening with deaf ears.
If Trump’s overwhelming victory proved anything, it’s that we are moving away from the woke liberal nonsense that used to resonate with far more Americans.
And wasn’t there supposed to be a separation of church and state?
Rob Feuerstein
Staten Island
The religious left’s hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Their virtue-signaling has reached a crescendo, exposing their two-faced nature.
Yes, Trump may not be following Christian doctrine by deporting illegal immigrants or closing the border to them.
(By the way, I wholeheartedly support the president on this).
But neither is supporting abortion.
Even the pope himself has been clear on these issues. You can’t have it both ways.
Chris Plate
Waterloo
Trump’s attendance at the inaugural prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral has led him to demand an apology from Budde because of her sermon, in which she implored him to be a compassionate president for everyone residing in the country.
Once again, someone finds themselves in Trump’s cross-hairs and gets thrown under the bus by him.
Will Trump also demand an apology from Jesus Christ for the Beatitudes or the Sermon on the Mount for preaching compassion?
Would Jesus even dare to preach to Trump?
C. R. Prabakaran
Sterling Heights, Mich.
As a life-long Episcopalian, I deplore Bishop Budde’s disgraceful misuse of the pulpit by injecting politics into a prayer service.
To admonish an attendee directly — and distort his views — is even more egregious.
This was a shameful breach of church protocol, and it brings disrepute upon the church.
Gary Layton
Interlaken, NJ
If Trump fears the truth so much, then he should keep out of the churches, mosques and temples of America.
Clerics do not kiss his ring nor take a knee to him.
He owes the bishop an apology.
Not the other way about.
Peter J. Peirano
Ridgewood, NJ
Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
