On the first full day of U.S.
President Trump’s second term, the president and vice president attended a multi-faith
prayer service at the National Cathedral. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde
delivered the sermon on what is necessary for imperfect political unity in a
country such as the United States. I contend that in trying to influence the
president on immigration policy in a partisan way, she undercut the credibility
of her message that there is strength in loving rather than retaliating against
one’s detractors and even political enemies. The sacrifice of which she spoke
concerning being kind in reaching out in humanity to people we dislike could be
applied to herself in resisting the temptation to be partisan. That she lapsed
at the expense of Jesus’ most important message is particularly striking.
The full essay is at "Undercutting Jesus' Message."
