To Christians Who Despise Jesus' Words

Bishop Budde Spoke Truth To Power To The Horror of Cowards and Collaborators

Florida-based megachurch Coral Ridge Ministries used their Daily Devotional eblast to attack Bishop Mariann Budde, echoing hypocritical talking points from Trump apologists and the growing Christian nationalist movement installed in Washington, DC.

Founded in 1974 , Coral Ridge has a long history of anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion activism and is designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

My reply, though addressed to the head of this right-wing organization, is intended for all religious groups that remain silent or antagonistic as Bishop Budde faces hate mail and death threats for speaking truth to power from her church’s pulpit.

[I’ve posted their full letter below, following my response, along with ways you can support Bishop Budde by contacting her directly.]

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Coral Ridge Ministries
P.O. Box 11184
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33339 | letters@crm.tv

Dr. Pacienza,

Your critique of Bishop Mariann Budde's call for mercy for marginalized communities, including immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals, frames her message as “progressive politics” rather than authentic Christian teaching. However, her message aligns deeply with Scripture’s foundational call for mercy, justice, and love for all people, particularly those on the margins.

Jesus’ Teachings on Mercy
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently calls for mercy, particularly for those who are vulnerable or rejected by society. Consider these passages:

• “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). Jesus teaches that mercy is not optional; it is a defining characteristic of those who follow Him.

• When Jesus declares, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13; Hosea 6:6), He critiques those who prioritize rigid adherence to law over compassion. Upholding the “rule of law” without mercy is the very legalism Jesus condemned.

Bishop Budde’s words about LGBTQ+ children fearing for their lives and the plight of immigrants are not unsubstantiated accusations—they are supported by evidence of rising hate crimes and the devastating impacts of family separation at the border. Her call for mercy is grounded in Jesus’ ministry to “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40), where our treatment of the marginalized reflects our treatment of Christ Himself.

Mercy and Justice Are Not Partisan
You suggest that Bishop Budde replaced biblical truth with “woke ideology,” but the Bible’s calls for justice and mercy are timeless. Consider the following:

• “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

• “Do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow” (Zechariah 7:10).

Mercy for immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and others targeted by unjust policies is not a political agenda—it is a Christian imperative. Christians are called by Jesus to be a voice for the voiceless and to challenge systems that harm the most vulnerable.

Unity Through Mercy, Not Silence
You pretend to lament that Bishop Budde’s words deepened divisions rather than fostering unity. However, true unity cannot come at the expense of truth and justice. Jesus Himself was divisive when He challenged the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and neglect of justice (Matthew 23:23). He reminded them—and us—that following God requires prioritizing “the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness.”

Unity achieved by ignoring suffering is false unity. Instead, unity emerges when we stand together to address injustices and extend God’s mercy to those in need.

The Role of Prophetic Leadership
Prophets in Scripture often delivered uncomfortable truths to those in power. Nathan confronted King David about his sin (2 Samuel 12), and Jeremiah called out the leaders of Judah for failing to protect the oppressed (Jeremiah 22:3). Bishop Budde’s sermon follows this prophetic tradition by urging leaders to consider the human cost of their policies. Her message is not an affront to unity—it is an appeal to conscience.

Dr. Pacienza, Bishop Budde’s call for mercy for immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others reflects the heart of the Gospel. The Christian faith demands that believers speak out against injustice, even when it challenges those in power. Mercy is not partisan—it is the very essence of Jesus’ teachings.

Rather than dismiss her message as “progressive politics,” I encourage you to reflect on the biblical command to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). If our nation is to heal and find true unity, it will only be through a commitment to mercy, justice, and compassion—the very principles that Bishop Budde upheld.

But I’m not really here to exchange Bible verses or debate interpretation. I write to remind you that the faith you claim stood against abusive government powers, aided the persecuted, and defended those attacked by religious hypocrites. Yet, you now stand with the powerful, with billionaires, ignoring the warning: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:24). You do not render unto Caesar; you have become Caesar—or better yet Pharaoh, enraged at hearing the message: “Let my people go.”

Perhaps one day, you will awaken and follow the path of Reverend Niemoller, a Hitler supporter who awakened to his cruelty and became an ardent foe. Perhaps the words of Bishop Budde will blossom in your consciousness one day when you can no longer rationalize the hatred being inflicted in your name. I hope that day comes. And I hope it comes soon.

Sincerely,
Nadine Smith

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Below, please find contact information for Bishop Budde, links to related stories, and the full letter from Coral Ridge Ministries.

To contact Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, you can use the following information:

Email: bishopmariann@edow.org

Mailing Address:

Episcopal Church House
Mount St. Alban
Washington, DC 20016

For general inquiries, you can also reach the main office at 202-537-6555.

Episcopal Diocese of Washington

Additionally, Bishop Budde maintains an active presence on social media platforms:

• Facebook: Mariann Edgar Budde

• Instagram: @mariannbudde

These channels can also be used to follow her work and initiatives within the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
You can order her book at your favorite local bookstore or online:

Links:
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/editorial/editorial-addressing-trump-bishop-budde-did-what-christian-obliged-do

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National Prayer Service Falls Prey to Progressive Politics

In what should have been a moment of national unity and spiritual reflection, today's National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral devolved into a progressive lecture aimed at President Trump. As I sat in the cathedral's historic pews, I watched an ancient tradition of seeking God’s blessing on our nation transform into a platform for promoting progressive politics.

Since 1933, the National Prayer Service has served as a sacred moment when Americans, regardless of political affiliation, come together to seek divine guidance for our nation's leadership. Historically, these services have emphasized our shared spiritual heritage and the transcendent truths that unite us. Presidents of both parties have participated in this solemn tradition, recognizing that true national unity must be grounded in something higher than partisan politics.

But Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde took a rather different approach. Instead of offering spiritual wisdom or seeking God’s blessing on our nation, she used the pulpit to deliver pointed political criticism of the president seated before her. She made the extraordinary claim that Trump's policies are causing LGBTQ+ children to “fear for their lives” – an unsubstantiated accusation. She suggested that enforcing immigration law is inherently unmerciful, seemingly forgetting that upholding the rule of law is a biblical principle and a presidential duty.

The bishop’s sermon reflected a deeper problem in mainline Protestantism: the substitution of biblical truth with woke ideology. Instead of drawing from Scripture’s rich teachings about justice, mercy, and governmental authority, she presented a secular worldview dressed in religious language. This approach assumes that unity comes from embracing current cultural trends rather than timeless divine truth.

True unity cannot be achieved by ignoring our religious particulars or conflating biblical teaching with progressive politics. Real national harmony comes from pursuing truth as revealed by God himself, not from cultural assimilation masquerading as inclusivity. A National Prayer Service should point us toward transcendent truth, not lecture us about contemporary political positions.

What makes this particularly troubling is the missed opportunity. At a time when our nation desperately needs healing, the service could have reminded us of our shared dependence on God’s grace and guidance. Instead of lecturing the president about policies she disagrees with, Bishop Budde could have led us in genuine prayer for wisdom, justice, and mercy in addressing complex national challenges.

The irony is that while claiming to promote unity, the bishop's approach actually deepens our divisions. By conflating progressive politics with the Christian faith, she alienates millions of faithful Americans who have thoughtfully reached different conclusions based on their understanding of constitutional law.

As we move forward as a nation, we must remember that true unity doesn’t require uniform agreement on policy positions. Rather, it requires a shared commitment to seeking truth and pursuing justice with humility and civility. The National Prayer Service should be a moment when we collectively acknowledge our need for divine wisdom, not a platform for promoting partisan perspectives.

Our nation’s founders understood that the free exercise of religion plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy republic. When we reduce religious services to vehicles for progressive politics and woke ideology, we lose something precious from our national character.

Looking ahead, let us hope that future National Prayer Services return to their proper role: calling our nation to seek God’s wisdom and blessing rather than promoting particular political agendas. In these divided times, we need more than ever to be reminded of the transcendent truths that can unite us across political lines. Only by turning to God’s unchanging truth, not the shifting winds of cultural fashion, can we find the unity our nation so desperately needs.

Dr. Robert J. Pacienza
President and CEO
Coral Ridge Ministries