A riddle:
Query: How are you going to inform the distinction between a liberal Democrat and an Episcopal bishop?
Reply: An Episcopal bishop wears a humorous hat.
On my tortured street to the Catholic Church, I abided for a time with the Episcopalians. Whereas learning at Harvard, I went by affirmation courses at Boston’s Trinity Church. I used to be attracted by the pageantry of Trinity’s non secular providers and by the Episcopal liturgy.
In time, nevertheless, I grew to become disenchanted. I spotted that being an Episcopalian was little or no totally different from being a progressive Democrat. Thus, I left the Episcopalian and have become Catholic.
Different Episcopalians have develop into disaffected with their denomination. One article reported that the venerable denomination fell from a peak membership of three.4 million in 1959 to 1.58 million in 2020. Certainly, the Episcopal Church is shedding members so quick that one commentator predicted its demise by 2040.
Nonetheless, the Episcopal hierarchy is unbowed, and the elaborately robed bishops proceed to guide their flocks towards oblivion. On this spirit of self-destruction, Bishop Budde delivered a disrespectful lecture (disguised as a sermon) to President Trump on the Washington Nationwide Cathedral in Washington, DC. President Trump demanded an apology, which he’s unlikely to get.
Bishop Budde made two predominant political factors. First, she expressed worry for homosexual, lesbian, and transgender People, saying:
I ask you to have mercy upon the individuals in our nation who’re scared now . . . There are homosexual, lesbian, and transgender youngsters in Democratic, Republican and impartial households, some who worry for his or her lives.
Second, the Bishop challenged President Trump’s immigration coverage. “The overwhelming majority of immigrants are usually not criminals,” the Bishop exhorted and begged the President to point out mercy “on these in our communities whose youngsters worry that their dad and mom shall be taken away, and that you just assist those that are fleeing struggle zones and persecution in their very own lands to search out compassion and welcome right here.”
I need to briefly problem Bishop Budde’s political themes. First, I do not imagine that American gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals worry for his or her lives. Nor do I believe President Trump has ever stated or carried out something that ought to frighten our nation’s LGBTQ communities.
Second, Budde’s insinuation that Trump would harass or deport immigrants who entered this nation to flee persecution isn’t fully correct. The President is merely requiring immigrants to observe established authorized processes and making an attempt to cease the entry of criminals and drug traffickers from coming into america.
Deportation processes might certainly disrupt some immigrant households, however I imagine our authorities can take away unlawful immigrants humanely. We are going to quickly see.
Talking as a Catholic and ex-Episcopalian, I counsel Bishop Budde pursue her political agenda as a layperson. Maybe she ought to develop into an worker of the Democratic Get together. I am certain the Democrats could be completely satisfied to rent her and permit her to proceed carrying her humorous hat.
