host: in the aftermath of the president speech, the bishop of the episcopal diocese, had comments abouthe president's message which in part she said i am outraged, i am the bishop of the episcopal diocese in washington and was not given even a courtesy call that they would be clearing the area with teargas so they could use one of our churches as a prop. everything he has said and done is to inflame violence. we need moral leadership and he has done everything to divide us. is the bishop justified her outrage? guest: no. president has a responsibility and takes in oath of office with his hand on the and defend the constitution of the united states and the primary function of that office is to ensure domestic tranquility and to defend the homeland against foreign foes. if the president fails to do that, than they have failed in their primary responsibility, and i think he was -- i think it was very important for him in the call he had with the governors yesterday, in the eloquent statement he made at the rose garden in which he made it clear that he was prepared to use the u.s. military

she's bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington she said she learned of trump's visit by watching it on the news quote i don't want president trying to speaking for syndromes i'm outraged i'm the bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington and was not given even a courtesy call that they would be clearing with tear gas so they could use one of our churches up as a prop holding a bible one that declares that god is love and when everything he has done is doing . the not doing any good she said the church disassociates itself from the messages of the president we hold the teachings of our sacred text to be so grounding to our lives and everything we do and it's about love with our neighbor and sacrificial love and justice $0.03. she added that there was a dozen clergy of the church all day to support the protesters and they left when the curfew was cool so it's not going down well with the base but it hasn't gone down particular well with episcopal church in washington d.c. or the mayor and we're getting some insight into some of the thought process is if the white house press cor

they were forcibly removed for him to do that so this church that truck visited as part of the episcopal diocese of washington the bishop of that diocese told the washington post she felt outraged by the visit reverend marian edgar buday said i was not given even a courtesy call that would be clearing the area with tear gas so that they could use one of our churches as a prop everything he has said and done being trump is it to inflame violence we need moral leadership placed on everything to divide us and has just use one of the most sacred some bowls a d.j. you christian tradition share batons he's been out among the protests in washington d.c. where there's a curfew now in place he sent this report we're about 3 blocks from the white house the police have managed to disperse most of the protesters there are gathering to protest is now just behind us. who sing some police activity moving in that direction. the core group of protesters however remains behind us kept a limb by limb by the police so the police are very careful to escort the media out of the group home it kept a cool group of prot

> woodruff: and now we turn to another perspective, from bishop mariann budde, who leads the episcopal diocesef washington, d.c. st. john's, across from the white house, has been known as "thehurch of the presidents" for over 200 years. it was partially burned on sunday night during the unrest, and then, yesterday evening, was the site of the photo-op by the president and some advisors. bishop budde and church leadership have derided the use of the religious site for that purpose, and for the way federal officers violently confronted protesters as the president headed to the church. and bishop budde joins us now. thank you so much for talking with us. why did you decide to speak out? >> it was a-- it was a confluence of events in the-- in the very short period of time when the images of the president following the-- the-- the dispersal of the crowds that you mentioned, following his-- extremely inflammatory to my ears-- remarks in the rose garden, and then-- and then bringing himself and his entourage into our sacred space, using it as a backdrop and holding the bible as if to put on the mantl

leaders of the church and episcopal diocese have no notice of his decision to use the church as a backdrop for a political statement. >> he cdidn't come to church to pray or offer condolences to those grieving. he didn't come to commit to healing our nation. all of the things that we'lly you would expect and long for from the highest leader in the land. >> that was episcopal bishop marianne budde telling craig melvin earlier about the president's rivals speaking out today in philadelphia. >> a photo-op at one of the most historic churches in the country, or at least in washington, d.c. we can be forgiven for believing the president is more interested in power than in principle. the president held up the bible of st. john's church yesterday. i just wish he opened it once in a while. >> mean mile in new york city looters vandalized stores from macy's on herald square to the bronx. and protesters were peaceful after an impassioned plea from floyd's younger brother. and the autopsy reporting floyd's death was homicide from asphyxiation. and they released their private autopsy saying it was cau

the e e his episcopal diocese, this is what they explained to me. >> after making a highly charged, emotionalech to the nation where he threatened military force, his officials cleared peaceful protests with tear gas and horses and walked on to the courtyard of st. john's church and held up a bible as if it were a prop or extension of his military and authoritarian position and stood in front of our building as if p it were a backdrop for his agenda. >> despite criticism from religious leaders, the president holding what appeared to be pretty much another photo op today in a shrine for pope paul john xxii. arch bishop gregory saying, i find it baffling and reprehensible that any catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and man n manipulated. and in a span of 24 hours, rebukes from religious leaders and yet the president still enjoys, at last check, enjoys a chunk of evangelical support. how can it be should. >> that is a question of the ages at this point. those whoex who protess all of this christian purity and this e idealism, it baffle thes a lot of us christians,

the bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington, which includes st. johns which the president walked to yesterday, is going after the president's photo op saying he used her church as a backdrop and the bible as a prop. let's watch. i want to see what you have to say after you see this. >> the president just used a bible and one of the church's of my diocese without commission as a background for a message backwards of the teaches of jesus. i'm outranged. >> harris: kellyanne, what do you have to say? >> the president just signed and order for religious liberty. that follows on the president addressing the united nations general assembly on the matter of religious liberty saying stop persecuting people based on their faith, that we will not support nations that do so. this is a continuum by this president, ten short days ago, 11 days ago, he said reopen our places of worship. we need more prayer, not less. stop discriminating against these places of worship that really compel a special law before you ban people from worshipping. that followed with pra

joining us now is the bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington, d.c., mariann edgar budde bishopfor being with us. you were not there at st. john's yesterday during this, but you watched along with the rest of us and your reaction was i can't believe what my eyes have seen. why? >> well, you set the context to illustrate the use of the symbolic power of our sacred texts and a church that is dedicated to the nonviolent teachings of jesus. the president, after insisting that he would use severe military force to quiet the agony of our nation cleared a nonviolent protesters with tear gas and riot police so that he could co-opt the symbols of our faith to undergird his message. and i felt that i needed to disassociate us from that gesture in no uncertain terms and refocus our sights on the true issues that we are grappling with as a nation right now. >> what did it feel like at that moment when he was standing before that church with the bible held high? >> well, it's a combination of feelings. let's not forget the real pain that is spread before us every second of every day in these

with me now the bishop of the episcopal diocese, reverend megan bootie. when you see the president in front of a church which has been symbolic because of its location to the white house. what did that mean to you seeing the president not read the bible, but shake the bible? >> there was an abuse of political power with the way the nonviolent crowds were cleared with tear gas and riot police so he could make his walk to the church. i would say his appropriation of the bible and standing in front of the church was a misuse of sacred space and sacred symbols. somehow aligning himself and his immediate rhetoric with that of god, the word of god, and the ministry of the church, and i felt that i needed, on behalf of all of us, to disassociate that, to separate those two things and to say that his words and his actions are, in fact, empathetical to the teachings of jesus. >> for those who do not understand the presidents' roles for years, it goes back to abraham lincoln. look at the importance of this in terms of, as the bishop of the episcopal church in washi

the bishop of the episcopal diocese in washington said she was outraged by his move. >>let me be clear. the president just use a bible and i think that accident today, a christian tradition and one of the churches of my diocese without permission. and in her message at a critical to the teachings of jesus and everything that archer to stand for and to do so as you just said he sanctioned the use of tear gas by police officers in riot gear to clear the church died. i am outraged. >>this it said she didn't know that he was going to come also noted that he didn't say a prayer. went on to criticize the president for also failing to acknowledge the agony that the country is experiencing when he made his remarks, especially agony in communities of color week. >>well because many protests relating to vandalism and looting across the bay area several crew curfews are now being enforced as we mentioned a little earlier, san francisco and alameda counties have a curfew in effect from 08:00pm to 05:00am san jose's curfew is from 08:30pm to 05:00am for the next 7 days. santa clar

po is namedl after a bishopk of the episcopal diocese of louisiana who became a confederate general. after colonelamed edmund rucker given the honorary title of general. it goes on to say that during the battle of nashville in 1864, he was wounded and captured. he was later the ku klux klan first grand wizard. again, more of that available if you go to the montgomery advertiser to learn more about the base is named after confederacy generals. is supportive of the efforts, hi. caller: we had this discussion before about the statues put up in the face of people that were suffering in those times and decided, it would be good to take down those studies. what about a place like vicksburg? the you know what is in the national park in vicksburg? for those who don't, it is all union monuments and union dead. there is no confederate there. after the war, that is what the country did. they put those monuments in the south to let them know, hey, we countries., not two so are we going to dig up those graves so we don't have to remember the civil war? that is all union. host: from san clemente,

i am the bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington and was not even given a courtesy call that they would be clearing the area with tear gas so they could use our church as a prop. the director of the church saying he felt blindsided, quote, we want st. john's to be a space for peace, a place you can breathe. being used as a problep, it rea takes away from what we are trying to do. one seminarn and one priest cleared from the area outside st. john's as the president marched over wrote in a facebook post that she is, quote, now a force to be reckoned with. and then there was the presiding bishop of the entire episcopal church, michael curry, who even if you're not an episcopalian you will recognize from his presiding over the royal wedding in 2018 and the beautiful funeral service for former president george h.w. bush. he is the head of the entire episcopal church. and after what happened with the tear gassing and the trampling of those protesters so the president could hold a photo op in front of an episcopal church, he has released this statement. quote, this evening the president

episcopal diocese, who said the president's actions appeared to be a stunt. >> it didn't seem to be anxpression of faith or of solidarity with faith. it seemed to be, as we've said before, an opportunity to clothe himself in the mantle of spiritual symbols and locations to, in some way, bolster or reinforce his own authority and message. >> and harsh words from the presumptive democratic nominee for president, former vice president joe biden, who spoke on tuesday. >> the president held up the bible at st. john's church yesterday. i just wish he opened it once in a while, instead of brandishing it. if he opened it, he could have learned something. we're all called to love one another as we love ourselves. >> and cnn's senior political analyst ron brownstein is joining us this hour from los angeles. ron, good to see you. >> reporter: another busy day, john. good to see you. >> they're all busy days. the president seemed to frame the way he wants to run for re-election during that national address on monday. here's part of it. >> i am your president of law and order and an ally of all pea

short time ago a prayer vigil was held here organized and led by bishop mariann budde, from the episcopal dioceseon, she's been fiercely critical of the photo op that president trump carried out there at st. john's church. wolf, this is as close as we can get to the white house. this front row of federal officers is not only d.c. national guard but special operations teams from the bureau of prisons. that just speaks to this huge patchwork of different law enforcement agencies that have descended on washington to help the other federal agencies that are normally based here like secret service and u.s. park police. a number of the officers i've seen are from texas, a prison at beaumont, texas, east of houston, which is quite remarkable. wolf, to your point, we are halfway up 16th street, i know you know this area well. protesters just a couple of days ago were inside lafayette park which is right in front of the white house. then they got pushed to the edge of the park. then a fence was put up. and now the protesters have been pushed all the way back here. and you can see those two trucks there ri

we'll be joined by the bishop of washington's episcopal diocese who condemned his visit. we'll talk about his visit to a catholic church enshrined to pope john paul ii. the archbishop op of washington who said the late pope who has been canonized would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrence to scatter, silence or intimidate for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace. or presumably used down wash from military low flying choppers to disperse crowds as happened last night in washington. tactics normally seen in war zones. being used against american citizens protesting peacefully in the nation's capital. >>> as we said at the top, a curfew is now in effect in new york city after a day of large and peaceful daytime demonstrations. last night it gave way to vandalism and break ins at retail establishments inclusion macy's flagship store in mid town manhattan. earlier today the president lashed out at new york's governor for his decision to leave responsibility for protecting property and lives and ensfoiforcing the curfew to new york city p

that is from the episcopal leader of the diocese in washington. margaret. margaret, turn down your audio. caller: thank you. host: mute that. go ahead. margaret. caller: good morning. trump did not walk through that little park with the protection of the national guard and the army, what if those protesters --one of those protesters would have killed him. and yet i hear people on the news blaming mr. trump for everything. said ago --months ago, he he would take care of all of this. all of the governors complained. they said we are going to take care of our own states. and look at what is happening. those governors are blaming mr. trump for everything. you have ruined our country. you have ruined our beautiful country. i don't know whether it will ever come back. it is not the people that are doing what they are doing. the troops and the national guard should have been called up the first night. the statesrs in all told mr. trump, no. we want to take care of our own. what is the matter with you people in our country? my father died from this country --for th

don't want president trump speaking for some drawings he said i'm outraged i'm the bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington and was not given any even a courtesy call that they would be clear. and with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop holding a bible one that declares that god is love and when everything he has said and done is to inflame violence we hold the teachings of our sacred text to be so grounding to our lives and everything we do and it is about love of neighbor and sacrificial love and justice she said not happy the mayor of d.c. also not happy tweeting i imposed a curfew at 7 pm a full 25 minutes before the curfew and without provocation federal police used munitions on peaceful protesters in front of the white house and that will make the job of d.c. police department officers more difficult shameful d.c. residents go home be safe that of course has opened up the. to some criticism there because her curfew that gives very early curfew that gave gave the police in some ways an opportunity to acknowledge this was actually before the curfew half an hour befor

as you said my name is mariann budde tick i serve as bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington which counts among its parishes st. john's lafayette square. i appear today to express my deep concern about the events of june 1 when our government resorted to acts of violence against peaceful protesters, and prevent clergy and lay members of the church from exercising their ministry on the grounds of st. john's. we in the episcopal church believe that the issues of racial and social justice are core tenets of the christian faith. the bible teaches all human beings are created in the likeness and image of god. as children of god, all are to be treated with equal dignity and respect. embedded in our nation's history and institutions is a shameful abuse of black americans and other persons of color justified by the sinful notion of white supremacy, that whiteness is the human standard from which all other human beings deviate and are somehow less human, less worthy of equal treatment. and as christians we are called by god to rectify that injustice. our faith compels us to join those aroun

we are joined by the bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington, reverend mariann budde. bishop, thank you for joining us this morning. i heard you last night as the situation was unfolding and your anger and anguish were so visceral. explain why this is so painful for you. >> well, first of all, this is an excruciating moment, a crisis moment in our country where we need healing, where we need reconciliation and justice. and the president after speaking the remarks that you summarized and clearing with tear gas and riot gear police, the park and the courtyard of our church, stood in front of st. john's and held up a bible as if -- as if it were spiritual validation ant is antithetical to the teachings of jesus and to the god of justice. and so i felt in no uncertain terms that i had to disassociate us from that symbolic gesture and to speak a word of justice and peace to the nation. >> did you have any notice that the president was going to be doing this? >> no. no. i was sitting watching the news with my mother when i saw what everyone else saw. >> and we all know the c

let‘s speak now to bishop gregory brewer, an episcopal bishop whose diocese is central florida.rying to do?” today and how the bible yesterday, what is he trying to do? i am not sure entirely when he is trying to deal and unless what he is trying to do is claim some sort of religious legitimacy for the actions that he has taken legitimacy for the actions that he has ta ken around legitimacy for the actions that he has taken around the death of george floyd in the depths that happened afterwards. it is hard to do because the actions and my opinion has been contrary to the scriptures that he holds up or even the witness of st. john‘s church there on lafayette square, just prior to his walk across to st. john‘s, the clergy and staff and others were handing out water bottles to the protesters. the contradictions for me were absolutely baffling. you call this blasphemy which is a pretty strong word to use against the president of the united states. why do you say it is blasphemy? i did, it is not a term i use very often at all but it seems to me that part of what blasphemy is to use

po is namedl after a bishopk of the episcopal diocese of louisiana who became a confederate general.fter colonelamed edmund rucker given the honorary title of general. it goes on to say that during the battle of nashville in 1864, he was wounded and captured. he was later the ku klux klan first grand wizard. again, more of that available if you go to the montgomery advertiser to learn more about the base is named after confederacy generals. is supportive of the efforts, hi. caller: we had this discussion before about the statues put up in the face of people that were suffering in those times and decided, it would be good to take down those studies. what about a place like vicksburg? the you know what is in the national park in vicksburg? for those who don't, it is all union monuments and union dead. there is no confederate there. after the war, that is what the country did. they put those monuments in the south to let them know, hey, we countries., not two so are we going to dig up those graves so we don't have to remember the civil war? that is all union. host: from san clemente, ca

the bishop of the episcopal diocese of washington said this. i'm quoting here. president, took the symbols sacred to our tradition and stood in front of a house of prayer in full expectation that would be a celebratory moment. there was nothing i could do but speak out against that. jonathan morris joins us. jonathan, look, i'm he pai episn but i disagree with what the bishop said. i think the president did exactly the right thing, used the bible and went to the church. where am i going wrong here? >> yeah. well, you know, my training is in theology. i would agree with you, on one hand, there's nothing wrong, there's something very good about the president showing -- going to a church. a lot of people are saying that's mixing church and state. no, it's not. not in a bad way, at least. but i think he missed an opportunity. i think the president missed an opportunity. he should have had the rector of that cathedral take down a board, it was all boarded up because it had been destroyed or at least had been defaced, and walked into that church and said a prayer, tog

and he said that the clergy who are criticizing trump, particularly the episcopal diocese in washingtonhe target of this, he said that they should be thanking him, not criticizing him. and so i think that that is much more of the prevailing view right now because trump, you know, in the social media and media that evangelicals absorb, the protesters are often depicted as leftist outsiders that trump is trying to protect american streets from. and so trump is, like i said, portrayed as the defender of america in this view. and then he'll also do something like he did yesterday, which was sign an executive order international religious freedom, which bounces everything back to something that he did to protect religious freedom even though on monday night he tear gassed clergy on the patio of st. john's helping protesters, giving them water and snacks and so forth. so this is a very typical back and forth with trump and his evangelical base to keep them in the supportive camp. >> sarah posner, thank you so much. the new book "unholy," and ben howl, sorry we only had time for one question.

racial justice rooted in scripture is now a critical ministry of the episcopal church in the diocese of washington. and it was that ministry at the invitation of my bishop that drew me and my colleagues to st. john's lafayette square. that monday, i was there on behalf of the church to provide comfort and support to the peaceful protesters and to stand in solidarity with them and with the cause of racial justice. i was there in support of people protesting the government's use of violence and brutality against innocent people, and with my own eyes, i saw the government use brutality and violence against peaceful people. to be clear, that day was marked by peaceful protests. our group of clergy was based on what i call the patio of st. john's lafayette square. a large outdoor area on the corner of h and 16th street, regularly used by the church for gatherings and for ministry. we were passing out water, snacks, hand sanitizer, masks. and trying to insure that the patio area was a place of respite and peace for the people gathered. it struck me that the patio had also become a deeply s

episcopal church which had been damaged by a basement fire the night before. he stood outside a church and held up a bible before posing with administration officials. the bishop who oversees the diocese outraged by the president's actions. >> the president just keeps a bible and a text of the judeo christian tradition at one of the churches of my diocese without permission as a backdrop to a message anthetical to the teachings of jesus and everything that our church teaches. >> he used the insur rex act of 1807. some feel that does not apply. >> my understanding is they can't do that without the approval of the governors and i can also tell you that it's probably not going to happen in a lot of our states. >> many governors upset by the president's calls to send the military to states and feel his language is further stoking fears and tensions. in a heated teleconference monday trump blasting governors calling them weak. >> you're going to arrest all of those people and try them. the way to dominate. if you don't dominate your city and your state, they're going to walk away with you. >> he's been a miserable failure. what i talked about on the call today was the fact that his rhetori