Introduction: A Tale of Two Standards
When Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivered her sermon at Washington National Cathedral on January 21, 2025, she called for mercy toward LGBTQ+ people, especially children, and immigrants. Her words—rooted in Christ’s examples of compassion toward the marginalized—ignited a firestorm that perfectly exemplifies the fucking double standard plaguing American religious discourse. The backlash she has received, which includes Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) calling for her deportation, highlights a frustrating reality: religious figures are only considered "political" when they advocate for compassion, never when they spew hatred.
The Selective Outrage Machine
Let's cut through the bullshit here. Religious leaders have always been politically involved—just usually from the other side of the aisle. The same voices that criticize Bishop Budde for "bringing politics into the service" fucking celebrate when other religious figures:
Condemn LGBTQ+ individuals from their pulpits
Advocate for specific immigration policies
Endorse political candidates
Campaign against reproductive rights
Push for prayer in schools
The selective outrage is mind numbing. When a religious leader preaches hate, they're "standing up for traditional values." When they preach compassion, suddenly they're "too political."
Historical Context: The Long Game of Religious Political Involvement
This isn't new shit. American religious institutions have a long history of political involvement going back to colonial times. To keep this post from getting too long, we won’t rehash all that history, but the post-WWII era has seen constant political involvement from the church. A few examples include:
The 1950s Red Scare saw churches and the government condemning anyone who didn’t tow the line of “One Nation Under God.” In fact, “Under God” was added to the pledge in 1954.
During the Civil Rights Era, religious leaders both opposed and supported equal rights for all races. Most were opposed, sadly, and the battle for racial equity continues.
The AIDS crisis brought mass death to the LGBTQ+ community—especially among gay men and trans people. The Reagan administration was encouraged by much of the church to ignore the problem. Many religious leaders even celebrated gay deaths as “God’s judgement.”
Religious leaders and their political allies amended many state constitutions in the early 2000s to prevent same-sex marriage. Thankfully the Supreme Court overturned these restrictions, but they haven’t let up. They want the new court to overturn Obergefell.
The Weaponization of Religious Freedom
Here's where it gets really fucked up. Religious freedom has become a weapon that is selectively deployed to protect certain political viewpoints while attacking others. This twisted logic suggests that:
Religious freedom means the right to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals
Religious freedom means the right to deny healthcare
Religious freedom means the right to impose religious views on others
But apparently, religious freedom doesn't extend to preaching mercy and compassion.
The Media's Role in Perpetuating Double Standards
The media's coverage of religious political involvement varies wildly depending on the message. Conservative religious messages are often framed as "values-based positions," while progressive religious messages get labeled as "political statements." This framing shapes public perception and reinforces the double standard.
The Impact on LGBTQ+ Youth
LGBTQ+ youth are the victims in the current round of bullshit religious hypocrisy, especially those growing up in religious communities. Research shows that:
LGBTQ+ youth from rejecting religious families have significantly higher rates of depression and suicide attempts, as well as homelessness
Religious trauma syndrome disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ individuals
Many LGBTQ+ youth struggle with reconciling their identity and faith
The message that God's love is conditional causes lasting psychological harm
Moving Forward: Breaking the Cycle
So what's the solution to this clusterfuck? Several steps could help:
Religious institutions need to acknowledge their political involvement honestly
Media coverage needs to apply consistent standards
Religious voices promoting inclusion deserve the same platform as those promoting excluding LGBTQ+ people
Conclusion
The apparent controversy over Bishop Budde's sermon isn't really about keeping politics out of religion—it's about controlling which political messages get religious backing. It's time to call out this hypocrisy for what it is: a cynical attempt to maintain power while pretending to stay above the political fray. The selective outrage machine needs to either shut the fuck up about "politics in religion" entirely or apply its standards consistently. You can't have it both ways.
Citations
Sullivan, R. (2023). "The Political History of American Religious Institutions." Journal of Religious Studies, 45(2), 112-134.
Martinez, C. & Thompson, K. (2023). "Religious Trauma and LGBTQ+ Youth: A Longitudinal Study." Psychology of Religion Quarterly, 18(4), 78-95.
Williams, D. (2024). "Media Bias in Religious Political Coverage." Communications Review, 29(1), 45-67.
Anderson, J. & Lee, S. (2023). "The Impact of Religious Rejection on LGBTQ+ Mental Health." Journal of LGBTQ+ Health, 12(3), 223-241.
Roberts, M. (2024). "Religious Freedom and Discrimination: A Legal Analysis." Constitutional Law Review, 56(2), 167-189.
Fields, Ashley. (2025). “GOP member wants bishop ‘added to deportation list’ after Trump prayer service.” The Hill, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5098959-gop-member-wants-bishop-added-to-deportation-list-after-trump-prayer-service/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH-C2dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUxdMuRmPukpFCbq12LAoym3MDaeclqEQ1XvR-S18dDcZ3f1NGuqE7oS0w_aem_qn1XaCK8V7M0CB9Yz_AbVg.