The unexpected star of the latest royal wedding is an American bishop who sees President Trump’s “America First” views as “heresy.”
The Most Reverend Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, brought a surprising air to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday.
Speaking about the power of love while quoting Dr Martin Luther King Jr., Curry’s colorful speech seemed entertaining and unusual for the event as many guests seemed surprised by his passionate delivery. Curry, who was invited to speak at the ceremony in St George’s Chapel, Windsor by the couple, will take his new-found fame with him in a few days as he joins a march on the White House against Trump.
Ordained as a priest in 1978, Curry has been outspoken on issues including social justice, immigration policy and marriage equality, defending the Episcopal Church decision in 2015 to allow same-sex couples to marry in church.
Curry, who claims his parents were descended from slaves and sharecroppers, joined a few other Christian leaders in signing a letter to the president last week as part of a movement aimed at “reclaiming Jesus,” according to Anglican Communion News Service.
‘We are living through perilous and polarizing times as a nation, with a dangerous crisis of moral and political leadership at the highest levels of our government and in our churches. We believe the soul of the nation and the integrity of faith are now at stake,” the Reclaiming Jesus Declaration read.
“We reject the resurgence of white nationalism and racism in our nation on many fronts, including the highest levels of political leadership,” it continued, while also seeming to refer to Trump without naming him.”We reject the practice and pattern of lying that is invading our political and civil life. Politicians, like the rest of us, are human, fallible, sinful, and mortal.”
The declaration seemed to be an attack on Trump’s agenda, condemning nationalism and xenophobia.
“We reject ‘America first’ as a theological heresy for followers of Christ. While we share a patriotic love for our country, we reject xenophobic or ethnic nationalism that places one nation over others as a political goal,” it read.
Curry has criticized Trump before, denouncing decisions affecting immigrant children and plans to ban transgender people from the military, The Mirror reported.
Church leaders and other Christians are set to gather at the National City Christian Church in Washington D.C. on May 24 reportedly for a time of prayer and preaching. A candlelight vigil will follow a march to the White House, according to ACNS.
“The church service, the procession to the White House, and silent candlelight vigil is planned in response to the moral and political crises at the highest levels of political leadership that are putting both the soul of the nation and the integrity of Christian faith at stake,” the Rev. Jim Wallis, a signer of the declaration along with Curry, said.
Via BPR
