Commentary 25/01/22 Why Bishop Budde's Trump tirade was wrong

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Her platform as a religious leader demanded, to say the least, a more nuanced approach

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivers a sermon during the National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21 in Washington, DC. marking Donal Trump's first full day of his second term in the White House. (Photo: Getty Images via AFP)

By Cristian Martini Grimaldi

Published: January 22, 2025 12:06 PM GMT

Updated: January 22, 2025 12:18 PM GMT

One of Jesus' most quoted sayings comes from the New Testament: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21).

Though uttered in response to a question about taxes, this pronouncement contains profound wisdom transcending its immediate context. It touches on the delineation between civic and spiritual duties, which resonates even in contemporary discussions about religion and politics.

When Jesus spoke these words, Judea was under Roman occupation. Taxes were a contentious issue, symbolizing financial obligations and subjugation to an oppressive regime. The Pharisees and Herodians sought to trap Jesus by asking, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" A direct yes or no would either alienate his followers or expose him to charges of rebellion.

His response was brilliant: pointing to a dinar with Caesar’s image. His declaration set boundaries, affirming that while earthly rulers have legitimate authority in certain domains, ultimate allegiance belongs to God.

In today’s world, Jesus’ words remind us to carefully navigate the intersection of faith and governance. While civic duties like paying taxes or engaging in public discourse are necessary, spiritual and moral obligations should not be co-opted for political gain.

This principle underlines the importance of keeping religious and political realms distinct to preserve their integrity.

This principle of separation seemed to collapse during the recent incident involving Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, a prominent female bishop in the Episcopal Church.

Following President Donald Trump's inauguration, she delivered a sermon that strongly criticized Trump and openly addressed his policies and rhetoric.

Bishop Budde’s comments raise questions about the role of religious leaders in political discourse. Should a sermon, traditionally a moment of spiritual reflection, delve into specific political matters like open support for LGBT communities?

Such actions risk blending the divine with the partisan, eroding trust in religious institutions as neutral spaces for all believers. This concern echoes Jesus’ wisdom: Religious leaders must tread carefully when addressing temporal matters to avoid blurring the line between Caesar's realm and God's.

Bishop Budde’s sermon following Trump’s inauguration also criticized Trump’s immigration policies. She emphasized immigrants' contributions, asserting that the majority are not criminals but active contributors to society, paying taxes and being good neighbors.

While her advocacy for compassion and justice is commendable, her remarks needed to disclose the full picture if they were to appear objective and nonpartisan. She neglected to address a critical aspect of the immigration debate: the plight of the numerous victims harmed by indiscriminate open-border policies.

This is happening all over the world, not merely in the US (I just recently wrote about a spike in crimes committed by foreigners in Japan, many of whom overstay their visas, which de facto defines them as illegal migrants.)

By focusing solely on the positive aspects of immigration, which in an immigrant country like the US seems somewhat obvious, Bishop Budde missed an opportunity to acknowledge the complex realities on the US borders.

Among the most troubling are the women and children who have suffered sexual assault, trafficking, or even death at the hands of individuals crossing the border illegally.

Furthermore, the social and security challenges posed by inadequate vetting processes, including the tragic cases of crimes committed by undocumented migrants, were conspicuously absent from her address.

Her omission presented a one-sided narrative that overlooked the balance required in discussions about immigration. Compassion for migrants must be paired with a commitment to safeguard vulnerable communities on both sides of the border.

Bishop Budde was right to highlight the humanity and dignity of immigrants, which no one, not even Trump is openly denying. But her platform, as a religious leader, demanded, to say the least, a more nuanced approach — one that acknowledges the suffering of all victims, whether immigrants themselves or those harmed by inadequate immigration policies.

Finally, regarding the LGBT critique of Trump, whose policy aims to redefine gender in federal terms, we would ask Bishop Budde: In the Garden of Eden, as described in the Bible, were there two distinct genders, or was there a broad spectrum of genders?

*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.