In a surprising turn of events, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) fired back at Episcopalian Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde after her prayer at the Washington National Cathedral caught the attention of President Donald Trump and his supporters.
During the service, Bishop Budde offered a powerful message, saying, “There isn’t much to be gained by our prayers if we act in ways that further deepen the divisions among us.” She emphasized that actions speak louder than words, and that God judges us by the way we live, not just the prayers we say.
However, Speaker Johnson wasn’t pleased with her remarks. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the bishop, calling her actions a “hijacking” of the National Prayer Service. “This was an opportunity to unify the country in prayer, but she used it to sow division,” he wrote, accusing Budde of pushing a “radical ideology” that has no place in such a sacred moment.
His comments quickly sparked a wave of responses from people across the political spectrum. Some, like former Tea Party Rep. Joe Walsh, questioned what was so “radical” about asking for mercy and compassion, which the bishop had urged for marginalized groups. Others, including critics on the left, pointed out the irony in a Christian leader like Johnson attacking a call for mercy, a central teaching of Jesus Christ.
In fact, many were baffled by Johnson’s harsh words. “How dare she ask for mercy for the marginalized?” one person quipped. Others found it hard to understand why a call for compassion could be considered a “radical ideology.”
As the debate unfolded, it became clear that this wasn’t just about a prayer. It was about what kind of message Christianity should send in times of division. Was it about compassion, or about political power?
It’s a conversation that’s not going away anytime soon. One thing’s for sure: when faith, politics, and public figures collide, the fallout can be both unpredictable and revealing.
Do you think Speaker Johnson was right to criticize the bishop, or do you believe compassion should always come first? Let us know your thoughts!
