President Trump Has Violated The First Amendment Rights of St. John's Episcopal Church

Because if Religion be exempt from the authority of the Society at large, still less can it be subject to that of the Legislative Body. The latter are but the creatures and vicegerents of the former. Their jurisdiction is both derivative and limited: it is limited with regard to the co-ordinate departments, more necessarily is it limited with regard to the constituents. The preservation of a free Government requires not merely, that the metes and bounds which separate each department of power be invariably maintained; but more especially that neither of them be suffered to overleap the great Barrier which defends the rights of the people. The Rulers who are guilty of such an encroachment, exceed the commission from which they derive their authority, and are Tyrants. The People who submit to it are governed by laws made neither by themselves nor by an authority derived from them, and are slaves.

~ James Madison, the second section of Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments

This is not just an act of depraved hypocrisy. It is a deliberate attempt to enlist Christians in Trump's racist thuggery, and Bishop Budde at least is not having it. How many of her fellow believers will make such eloquent criticisms of Trump's act?

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

~ Acts 5:1 - 6, KJV

If there were no other arguments, if there were no other demonstrations or proofs, the existence of President Trump alone is sufficient to disprove a god of perfect love and goodness who nevertheless ordains such a one as to try to subborn the bride of Christ. I almost wish such a god did exist, but there is no fear of Ananias's fate in the bleak hollow heart of our Traitor in Chief.