Mariann Budde Quotes

I am outraged. The President just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. I just can’t believe what my eyes have seen.

– Mariann Budde

Episcopal Bishop of Washington on Donald Trump’s bible photo op at St. John’s Church and his “incendiary language” during protests at George Floyd’s death.

We will rebuild; buildings can be rebuilt, lives cannot be brought back from the dead.

– Mariann Budde

Episcopal Bishop of Washington on fire damage to St. John’s Church during unrest over killing of George Floyd by police.

Let me be clear, he did not come to pray. He did not come to express remorse or consolation, he did not come to share the grief or to provide hope to the thousands of young people who were gathered in the park that day.

– Mariann Budde

Episcopal Bishop of Washington on Donald Trump’s photo op at St. John’s Church near White House.

This was a charade that in some ways was meant to bolster a message that does nothing to calm – to calm the soul and to reassure the nation that we can recover from this moment, which is what we need from a President.

– Mariann Budde

Episcopal Bishop of Washington on Donald Trump’s strongman speech and use of police, pepper balls and smoke canisters to force peaceful protesters off streets so he could walk to St. John’s Church and be pictured holding a bible.