Virginia Theological Seminary is defending one of its former students, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington Marianne Budde, for recently confronting President Donald Trump at Washington National Cathedral.
In a sermon on Tuesday, Budde asked Trump to have mercy on “gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.” She also called on Trump to have mercy on communities “whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.”
Budde was praised for her faithfulness by Virginia Theological Seminary Dean and President Ian Markham.
“To ask a President to be merciful is in the tradition of the prophets of the Hebrew Bible,” Markham said in a statement posted on social media. “While the overwhelming response VTS has received about her sermon has been positive, we have also received various complaints about our work because of her training in our Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry programs.”
Markham continued, “To be clear, we teach the Gospel as reflected in Holy Scripture. We support and stand alongside our Bishop alumna.
Trump sat in the front row with his family, Vice President Vance and his wife. After the service, he called Budde a “So-called Bishop” and a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater” who brought religion into the world of politics.
“Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!”
