In one of the more tyrannical acts of the most despotic presidencies in American history, Donald Trump emerged from a day hiding in the White House bunker for a photo op at St. John's Church, brutalizing and tear gassing peaceful protesters to clear a path.
Once he'd arrived at, the church the president awkwardly lifted a bible over his head and posed.
As Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of Washington's Episcopal Diocese pointed out, "he held up his Bible … he did not pray … he used our symbols and our sacred space as a way to reinforce a message that is antithetical to everything that the person of Jesus, whom we follow, and the gospel texts that we strive to emulate … represent."
The courageous words of Bishop Budde stand in stark contrast to the silence of many religious leaders and — worse — praise for Trump from the hypocritical opportunists on the religious right.
The simple fact is that Trump's publicity stunt is a smack in the face to all who claim to adhere to Judeo-Christian teachings (along with everyone else frankly), and religious leaders who do not call out this flagrant exploitation are abusing their own followers. It's time for all religious leaders to speak out.
Add your name to tell religious leaders to condemn Trump for exploiting the church!
