Bishop Mariann Budde on her plea to Donald Trump

Diane Rehm: On My Mind

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🗓️ 23 January 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

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Summary

Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivered a sermon at the National Cathedral on Tuesday in honor of Donald Trump’s inauguration. She ended with a direct address to the president.

“Let me make one final plea, ” she said. “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”

She went on to mention gay, lesbian and transgender children “in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.” She talked about families in the country without documentation who are terrified of being torn apart.

In response, the president demanded an apology, claiming Budde brought politics into the church. But Bishop Budde says she stands by her words, and that reminding the country of our shared humanity is part of her duty as a member of the clergy.

Bishop Budde is Diane’s faith leader, and she joins her today to explain why she felt she had to speak up and why she feels no need to apologize.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, it's Diane, on my mind, a plea from Episcopal Bishop Marianne Edgar Buddy.
0:13.0	Let me make one final plea, Mr. President.
0:19.0	Millions have put their trust in you.
0:21.6	And as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God.
0:29.6	On Tuesday, she delivered a sermon at the National Cathedral in honor of President Trump's inauguration.
0:40.0	In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country.
0:48.4	We're scared now.
0:52.1	There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in democratic, Republican, and independent families,
1:01.0	some who fear for their lives.
1:05.0	She ended with a direct address.
1:08.0	I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear
1:13.1	that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones
1:17.5	and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.
1:24.4	Donald Trump demanded an apology, but Bishop Buddy says she stands by her words. She joins me today
1:34.0	to explain why she felt she had to say them. Bishop Buddy is my faith leader, and I am so honored to have her join me.
1:47.7	Bishop, Buddy, you have had since November to think about what you were going to say
1:56.8	from the pulpit to the newly elected and inaugurated president of the United States.
2:06.2	Can you tell me a little about the process you went through?
2:12.0	I actually knew that I was going to preach long before the election
2:16.1	because the cathedral had decided that we would have a prayer service.
2:20.4	I was to be the preacher. Regardless of who was elected, the service would be the same.
2:26.1	And the theme of the service was established back then as a prayer service for the unity of the nation.
	...

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