Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, is a prominent religious leader who advocates for social justice issues, including immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde isn’t afraid to speak truth to power. Unlike almost everyone else in President Donald Trump’s orbit these days. And she has no plans to apologize for asking Trump to show mercy on the people he has terrorized in his first days back in power.

The Virginia Theological Seminary released a statement Friday in support of alumna Bishop Mariann Budde after she received conservative pushback for comments this week during the National Cathedral’s inaugural prayer service for President Trump.

The Episcopal bishop of Washington spoke with NPR to discuss her sermon addressing President Trump and why she asked him to have mercy.

Rev. Mariann Budde the Episcopal Bishop of Washington defended a plea for mercy she made to President Donald Trump on behalf of immigrants and others during an inaugural prayer service a day before.

President Donald Trump, left, watches as Rev. Mariann Budde, second right, arrives at the national prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump,

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde drew President Trump’s ire Wednesday morning after she used a National Catheral prayer service to issue a call for mercy against members of the LGBTQ and immigrant communities.

Mission is an English word that has morphed far beyond its Latin roots. As it transformed it embraced colonial expansionist meaning along the way. It is time Protestants return it to its original usage and pursue God's wider purpose instead.

Rep. McClain, on Thursday, Jan. 23, you used your platform to characterize Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde’s message during the prayer service at the National Cathedral as extremely out of line and out of touch. As a seminary graduate soon to become a minister, I would like to offer you a different view on Bishop Budde’s message.

The bishop who asked President Trump to “have mercy” to immigrants and transgender teenagers says politics and faith can’t be separated, but she’s not trying to be the face of a new resistance movement to the GOP.

( NewsNation) — Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde said she spoke from the “foundation of her faith” and not a political perspective when she called upon President Donald Trump to have mercy for vulnerable communities during her inauguration sermon last week.