Statement on Bishop Mariann Budde’s inauguration day sermon

Anglican Watch has received a number of questions about EDOW Bishop Mariann Budde and her recent speech at the National Cathedral, in which she directly called on Donald Trump to act with mercy towards immigrants, the LGBTQIA+ community, and others who are in fear.

This is our response.

Anglican Watch wholeheartedly endorses the notion that all persons should be free from injustice, poverty, oppression, and hate. That extends to those who, like the Holy Family, were illegal immigrants, fleeing threats of death and persecution.

We categorically reject Christian Nationalism as contrary to Christiantiy.

We note that the First Amendment expressly protects religion from government intrusion. Moreover, the First Amendment guarantees the right to free speech for all Americans.

Thus, we applaud Bishop Budde for preaching the gospel.

At the same time, we call on Bishop Budde and all Episcopal bishops to repent of their long-standing abuse, maginalization, and oppression of others, with particular reference to those who have been abused by the church. We have documented mulitple instances in which Bishop Budde has ignored pleas from those facing abuse within the Episcopal Church, thus adding to their pain, suffering, and sorrow. Thus, while she is eager to decry injustice she cannot control, we believe it is sinful and hypocritical to ignore abuse that she CAN control.

Indeed, we note that within her own diocese, Bishop Budde permits torture profiteer, David Ayres, to serve on the board of governors of the National Cathedral School. We have covered this issue, and contacted Bishop Budde and the school directly about our belief that persons who make money from torturing others should not serve in leadership roles in the church.

The days when Episcopal priests and clergy can act with impunity and ignore even criminal conduct within the church can and must end. We call on the church to be the church it claims to be, to stop treating non-sexual abuse as non-actionable under the clergy disciplinary canons, and to stop finding pretextual bases to dismiss complaints of abuse.