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Catholic Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory had more than a couple negative things to say about President Trump's recent visit to the church's shrine to John Paul II.
On Monday, President Trump visited St. John's Episcopal Church, where he took a picture in front of a shrine to John Paul II.
Pres. Trump visits Saint John Paul II National Shrine to lay a wreath in honor of the former Pope's 100th birthday. It comes amid criticism for the president's photo op at St. John's Church yesterday, which involved breaking up a peaceful demonstration. https://t.co/bxvKH8mVVi pic.twitter.com/3ChCQqtXlv
— ABC News (@ABC) June 2, 2020
Gregory, the Archdiocese of Washington's first black bishop, said Trump's visit "violates our religious principles."
NEW: Just before Pres. Trump arrived at Saint John Paul II National Shrine, Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, the nation's most senior African American bishop, issued a blistering statement, saying the Shrine was being "misused" by Trump. https://t.co/wjEYGiBMtn pic.twitter.com/ngQNR5t0mB
— ABC News (@ABC) June 2, 2020
The bishop issued a statement saying:
"I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree."
.@WashArchbishop Gregory has released a statement on the president's visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.https://t.co/46g9Ac8Wy5 pic.twitter.com/d1wERIoLVp
— DC Archdiocese (@WashArchdiocese) June 2, 2020
Gregory went on to explain why it was so inappropriate for President Trump to be invoking the image of John Paul II at this point in our history.
"Saint Pope John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and dignity of human beings. His legacy bears vivid witness to that truth. He certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace."
I am Catholic.
Pope John Paul II ferociously condemned every form of racism.
Trump's photo-op today at the JPII Shrine dishonors the legacy of this saint, and the people who made it possible should be ashamed.
Black lives matter. John Paul II understood that and proclaimed that. pic.twitter.com/EtmprUSCkJ
— Michael Bayer (@mbayer1248) June 2, 2020
The bishop isn't the only person in service to the church who has spoken out against President Trump in recent days.
After tear-gassing protestors so he could take a photo in front of St. John's Church, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde said Trump's impromptu pose with the bible was a "symbolic misuse of the most sacred texts of our tradition."
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde called into CNN to talk about Trump's photo op. Listen to this. pic.twitter.com/i2G0nS4Xxf
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) June 2, 2020
This bishop is disgusted and furious with Trump for perverting her church and one of its Bibles for his violence-fueled photo-op Monday pic.twitter.com/E5nIFqUXG5
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 3, 2020
Ben Sasse, a Republican Senator from Nebraska, also spoke out against Trump's visit to St. John's, saying:
"There is a fundamental—a Constitutional—right to protest, and I'm against clearing out a peaceful protest for a photo op that treats the Word of God as a political prop."
This statement, from @BenSasse is very good. It condemns police injustice AND rioting, loudly and clearly. It respects the constitutional right to peaceful protest. It also rightly condemns the president's shameful photo op yesterday. pic.twitter.com/vmnJAiYLiU
— David French (@DavidAFrench) June 2, 2020
Twitter, of course, is always quick to call President Trump out for hypocrisy.
“The president emerged from the White House, followed by a phalanx of aides and Secret Service agents as he made his way to the church, where he posed stern-faced, holding up a Bible that his daughter pulled out of her $1,540 MaxMara bag."https://t.co/fDz8FsEcJY
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) June 3, 2020
'It makes a mockery of Christianity' — Father @JamesMartinSJ explains in 30 seconds why Trump's church stunt was so anti-Christian pic.twitter.com/viOMIHubJU
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 3, 2020
Some of those in Lafayette Square said they were taking to the streets for the first time, motivated by President Trump's walk to a nearby church Monday that was preceded with tear gas and flash bangs used to clear out dissenters. https://t.co/aIj8jSX948
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 3, 2020
According to multiple religious leaders, President Trump continues to pose as a Christian while going against the teachings of Christ at every turn.