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Bishop Defends Sermon: I Was Speaking Directly To Trump, He Feels Empowered To Do What He Feels Called To Do
Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde defended her sermon at the post-inaugural National Cathedral prayer service Tuesday morning in which she directed comments at President Trump on trans, gay people, and immigrants.
"I was speaking directly to him," Edgar Budde told CNN's Erin Burnett. "I was also, frankly, as you do in every sermon, speaking to everyone who was listening through that one-on-one conversation with the President, reminding us all that in the people that are frightened in our country, the two groups of people that I mentioned are our fellow human beings and that they have been portrayed all throughout the political campaign in the harshest of lights."
"I felt that he has this moment now where he feels charged and empowered to do what he feels called to do, and I wanted to say, you know, there is room for mercy. There's room for a broader compassion," the bishop said.
ERIN BURNETT, CNN: Bishop, I appreciate your time and your tone there, so serious and genuine. You see him, he's stone-faced, he then looks down, but he's listening to every word you say. As you made that personal plea to him, were you looking at him in that moment?
What kind of response were you perhaps hoping for in that moment?
BISHOP MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE: I was. I was looking at the President because I was speaking directly to him. I was also, frankly, as you do in every sermon, speaking to everyone who was listening through that one-on-one conversation with the President, reminding us all that in the people that are frightened in our country, the two groups of people that I mentioned are our fellow human beings and that they have been portrayed all throughout the political campaign in the harshest of lights.
I wanted to counter as gently as I could with a reminder of their humanity and their place in our wider community. I was speaking to the President because I felt that he has this moment now where he feels charged and empowered to do what he feels called to do, and I wanted to say, you know, there is room for mercy. There's room for a broader compassion.
We don't need to portray with a broad cloth in the harshest of terms some of the most vulnerable people in our society who are, in fact, our neighbors, our friends, our children, our friends' children, and so forth.
ERIN BURNETT: So you spoke, I like how you used the word gently because it was gentle. I mean, it was intense and passionate, but yet it was gentle. It was not ugly or confrontational.
I wouldn't expect it to be, but, you know, these are hard things to talk about in that context. You spoke, obviously, about undocumented migrants, also the LGBT community, the two communities you're talking about. I wanted to play a little bit more of what you said and also, again, the President's reaction at that moment.
BISHOP MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE: There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives. The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors.
I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.
ERIN BURNETT: What made you decide to say all that today?
BISHOP MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE: Well, these are the people that I know. These are not abstract people for me. These are actual people that I know, so I wanted to speak on their behalf.
I wanted to present a vision of what unity can look like in this country that is transcending of differences and viewpoints and acknowledging our common humanity. I wanted to speak in such a way that reflected that dignity and respect, but I also wanted to bring into that space the real humanity of the people that I was referencing.
