Bishop Confronts Trump During Inaugural Prayer Service
The Facts
Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde directly addressed Pres. Donald Trump during the National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, making an appeal over the status of the US' minority communities.
"You have felt the providential hand of a loving God," she said. "In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now."
The Spin
Democratic narrative
The bishop demonstrated moral courage by speaking truth to power and maintaining her principles by defending vulnerable communities. Her sermon embodied religious leadership's responsibility to advocate for justice and human dignity, especially when confronting policies threatening marginalized groups.
Republican narrative
The bishop inappropriately politicized a sacred traditional ceremony, disrespecting both the office of the presidency and the solemn nature of the prayer service. Her partisan activism undermined the unifying purpose of the inaugural prayer service and reflected poorly on the church.
