To us Catholics, bishop Budde has shown what the moral courage based on faith in Christ is

Article by Kathleen Bonnette* published on the website of America - The Jesuit Review On January 24, 2025, freely translated by Luigi and Valeria De La Tenda di Gionata

The day after the second settlement of Donald J. Trump, Vescova Mariann Edgar Budde of the diocese of the episcopal church of Washington, DC, warned him: "In the name of our God, I ask her to have pity, Mr. President," he implored .

Citing in particular the immigrants and people of the LGBT+community, who were targeted by the executive orders just signed by the president, Bishop Budde reminded Trump that people are frightened and fragile, and that compassion and welcome are The way of the Gospel.

He asked God to "grant us the strength and courage to respect the dignity of every human being, to tell the truth to each other in love and to walk humbly with each other and with our God for the good of All people, the good of all people in this nation and in the world ».

Bishop Budde held his speech during the religious ceremony held on Tuesday on the occasion of the inauguration of the Presidency of Trump, as a response to the executive orders signed by the new president after his settlement.

Even if most of them were not a surprise - they had been promised during the election campaign - their actual implementation was a terrible blow.

To name a few, Trump retired from the Paris climate agreement, eliminated the restrictive rules on the extraction of fossil fuels, promoted the use of the death penalty both in the federal and state level, put an end to the right to Admission for refugees and asylum seekers, he sent more troops to the border with Mexico, put an end to the constitutional law of citizenship by birth (even if this provision is currently suspended in court), has started organizing mass deportations managed by the Army has revoked the legislation of sensitive places, which recognized the structures dedicated to worship as a refuge for people in danger and has declared that the United States government will recognize only two non -modifiable genres.

Those of us who have not already been interested directly by these measures are witnesses of the attempt by the Trump administration to substantially erase the vulnerable communities.

The act of moral courage of Bishop Budde in the face of these attempts to further marginalize people already vulnerable is worthy of praise and should inspire all of us - especially our priests and bishops - to proclaim the dignity of all people clearly and convinced, especially if we have important positions.

Declarations such as that of Bishop Mark J. Seitz, who urged President Trump to "move from these purely restrictive measures to right solutions oriented to compassion", are a way to do it, but it is also necessary that there are explicit positions there by ministers of the Church and secular leaders in the homilies and on other occasions of public declarations.

All this is not without risk. The Budwa Budde Budde reports that she and National Cathedral are now target of intimidation and have received threats of violence.

We can no longer think that those who have not been targeted directly are out of danger; We must use all the privileges and authorities we have to oppose, all together, to the systematic attacks of the new administration to human dignity, offering encouragement and protection to all those who are vulnerable.

It is worth thinking about the fact that Jesus himself went to the cross for having fought against marginalization and oppression and for subverting the state authority.

Connor Hartigan, in his article on America, highlighted how our tradition of faith is rooted in the prophetic testimony of those who have the courage to speak truthful to those who hold power. I hope that our bishops and the members of the hierarchy find the moral courage to continue this tradition.

One of the examples that I like most in recent history, regarding the prophetic nature of our tradition, was actually a reference to the consistency aimed at the Episcopal Conference of the United States.

In 1989, Thea Bowman, of the Order of Franciscan nuns of perpetual adorationIn a speech held on the occasion of a meeting of the bishops, he denounced the Episcopal Conference of the United States for the racist and paternalistic attitude present in that institution.

While declaring his love for his "bishop's brothers", Sister Thea, however, criticized them directly, saying: "They work for people, but they have not learned to share life, love and laughter with people", in particular with black Catholics. In this way, he invited them to a deeper communion as a body of Christ.

This political moment, in which many of the people who live near us are rightly frightened by the dangers who threaten them and feel abandoned, has opened wounds in the body of Christ.

I believe that the Church was absolutely not up to it in responding to Sister Thea's challenge to lead believers to justice, compassion and solidarity, and to overcome the attitudes marked by white supremacy, patriarchate and individualism.

Like Sister Thea, Bishop Budde has challenged us again, with integrity and conviction, and this should be an example for the whole clergy and hierarchy of the Church.

As the interim executive director of the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice [An organization of Catholic inspiration that deals with promoting social justice with initiatives of awareness, training and denunciation, Ndt] Joan Neal: «The Budva Budde has shown the prophetic leadership that we need at this time by all ours guides in the Church. He reminded the president who is his responsibility to take care of all people, without exception, in accordance with our dignity given by God. The commitment of this country, of this democracy, is his ability to offer freedom, health , safety and growth opportunities to all people, without exception. All our leaders in the Church, and in fact all believing people, should follow his example, to speak with frankness and truth to those who are in power, as Jesus did ».

The Franciscan Michele Dunne, executive director of Franciscan Action Network, he told me the same thing: "What Bishop Budde did - ask a leader elected to be merciful to people who are under his authority - is completely appropriate for a person who has a religious role role , both in public and in private. Many saints, for example Santa Caterina da Siena and San Francesco d'Assisi, have faced political leaders on moral issues ».

It is right that all this happens in the week in which we honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a shepherd who died of his belief that a Christian faith that does not commit to dismantling the systematic injustices of white supremacy, exploitation Economic and militarism is a distorted faith.

Bishop Budde raced the risk of following his example. I hope that our bishops, the clergy and all the leaders of the church follow his.

*Kathleen Bonnette works at the Center on Faith and Justice of Georgetown University, where he also teaches theology.

Original text: Bishop Budde Showed Faithful Moral Courage. Catholics Should Follow Her Lead