Oberlin faith leaders call for 'blasphemous' Trump's censure

OBERLIN — Twenty-three faith leaders from a range of traditions — Baptist, Quaker, Catholic, Presbyterian, Unitarian and more — are calling for the censure of President Donald Trump. The Oberlin-area ministers are critical of what Trump called a "very symbolic" photo op Monday in front of St. John's Episcopal Church. With protesters marching across the nation, Trump walked from the White House to the historic church, where he stood holding a Bible in the air. Ahead of his visit, police wearing body armor used tear gas to force hundreds of peaceful demonstrators away from Lafayette Square Park. Trump went to the Pope John Paul II National Shrine the next day, in a move Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory called "baffling and reprehensible." Oberlin ministers issued a statement Friday, saying "these acts of self-glorification on the part of our nation's leader must be condemned as blasphemous and unconstitutional." They mirrored the outrage expressed by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, who said Trump's visit was made to share "a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus." "We join many other faith leaders who have termed the president's actions 'blasphemy,'" said John Elder, retired former pastor of The First Church in Oberlin United Church of Christ. "Although many members of Congress, like clergy across the religious spectrum, have expressed dismay and disgust at what the president did, the seriousness of his actions demands a much stronger response," Elder wrote. The Oberlin ministers, who represent mostly Christian congregations, are calling on Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman as well as Rep. Jim Jordan to begin formal censure proceedings. Censure is a formal reprimand from the House of Representatives, the Senate or both for presidential conduct that does not befit the Oval Office. Unlike impeachment, it's not written into the Constitution, nor does it carry the weight of a criminal charge. Elder said Trump swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and protesters' right to peaceably assemble, guaranteed by the First Amendment, was violated. He said now "is the time for our elected representatives to give a clear warning that this behavior will not be tolerated." Framed as a letter to the three congressional figures, it warned that if no action is taken, Trump "may feel empowered to speak and act with even more authority, as if somehow he has divine blessing." The Rev. A.G. Miller of Oberlin House of the Lord Fellowship said he believes the president "continues to move this country in a direction that is dangerous." Referencing harsh words from former Secretary of Defense James Mattis, he said Trump's actions are leading the nation into fascism. Miller also said he is "highly critical" of Christians who look up to Trump as a religious role model. "They disregard all of the messages in the Bible about loving your neighbor, about seeking peace ... they ignore all of the scriptures about what it means to respect human life," he said. "They've bought into a notion of 'God, Mom and apple pie' at the exclusion of others." Fr. David Trask of Sacred Heart Catholic Church said he saw Trump's photo op and visit to the shrine as disingenuous. "For me, anybody if they're living their faith, there needs to be authenticity," he said. Asked what words he would share with parishioners who have questions about protests and their root causes, he quoted the words of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. "You go back to the commandment — to love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," he said. "The protests are highlighting the fact that we're not loving everybody like we love ourselves." Clergy who signed the letter included: • Fred Bell, Mt. Zion Baptist Church• David Cann, United Methodist Church• Ruth Ann Clark, United Church of Christ• Rollin Conway, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ• David Dorsey, multi-faith chaplain• June Hardy Dorsey, Episcopal Church USA• John Elder, Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ• Milton Ellis, United Church of Christ• Ann Francis, Oberlin Friends Meeting• Mary Grigolia, Unitarian Universalist Association• Mary Hammond, Alliance of Baptists• Steve Hammond, Alliance of Baptists• David Hill, United Church of Christ• Edward Long Jr., retired Presbyterian scholar of Christian ethics• A.G. Miller, Oberlin House of the Lord Fellowship• Sarahann Nelson-Olin, United Methodist Church• Laurence Nevels, Christ Temple Apostolic• Gary Olin, United Methodist Church• Erica Saunders, Peace Community Church• Sarah Shofstall, Christ Church Oberlin • Rebecca Thompson, United Church of Christ• Ralph Thompson, American Baptist Churches of America• David Trask, Sacred Heart Catholic Church Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.