In an eye-opening revelation, Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde and her organization, Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), were found to have received a staggering $53 million in 2023 from taxpayer-funded government programs aimed at resettling immigrants. This revelation has sparked a fierce debate, with many questioning whether Bishop Budde’s recent calls for mercy on behalf of illegal immigrants were driven by financial interests rather than genuine Christian compassion.
Bishop Budde, who has long been a vocal advocate for liberal causes, including open borders and LGBT rights, made headlines earlier this year for her sermon at the National Prayer Service shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Instead of delivering a traditional Christian message, she used the platform to deliver a politically charged address, urging the new president to extend mercy to the LGBT community and illegal immigrants. Her sermon was widely seen as a thinly veiled criticism of Trump’s policies on immigration and religious liberty.
However, recent reports suggest that Budde’s vocal advocacy may not be entirely altruistic. In 2024, Episcopal Migration Ministries sponsored the resettlement of over 6,400 individuals from 48 different countries under a special humanitarian program. This is no small feat, and with the Trump administration’s push to limit immigration and pause resettlement programs, EMM’s contracts have reportedly been interrupted. For a group that has relied on federal funds to support its operations, this disruption raises significant questions about the financial impact of Trump’s policies on Budde and her organization.
Conservative commentator Tara Bull made a sharp observation on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that Budde’s fervent calls for mercy may be more about preserving her organization’s financial stability than a deep moral concern. “It has been uncovered that Bishop Mariann Budde’s Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) collected $53 million from government programs in 2023 for ‘Immigrant Resettlement,’” Bull wrote. “So Trump is actually hurting her business. It’s all starting to make sense now.”
This sentiment was echoed by conservative figures like Charlie Kirk, who criticized the bishop’s sermon as a missed opportunity for a unifying Christian message. Instead of focusing on faith, Kirk argued, Budde used the platform to deliver a liberal political lecture, something more akin to a segment on CNN or an episode of *The View*. “Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She’s the first woman to hold the position. She was given a great honor today, a chance to unify America around a Christian message at the dawn of a new administration. Instead, she disgraced herself,” Kirk wrote.
In her sermon, Budde appealed to Trump’s supposed Christian values, urging him to show mercy to those who, in her view, were being unfairly targeted. “Let me make one final plea, Mr. President,” she said. “Millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared.”
She went on to describe immigrants, many of whom she claimed were “not criminals,” as essential workers who contribute to American society in various capacities—from cleaning office buildings to laboring in poultry farms and hospitals. While her message may have resonated with some, conservatives argue that it overlooks the realities of illegal immigration and the rule of law.
Budde’s plea for compassion for illegal immigrants and LGBT individuals raises important questions about the intersection of politics and religion, especially when financial motives may be at play. As the Trump administration continues its crackdown on illegal immigration, it remains to be seen whether Bishop Budde and her organization will continue to profit from government-funded resettlement programs or if her message will evolve in response to the changing political climate.
