Christian leaders denounce Trump
Hundreds sign letter opposing administration
By: Marc Ramirz
USA Today
..... Hundreds of Christian leaders and scholars nationwide are denouncing President Donald Trump's administration and urging more active resistance among the faithful to "the injustices and anti-democratic danger sweeping across the nation."
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"We are facing a cruel and oppressive government," their collective statement begins. "In moments like this, silence is not neutrality - it is an active choice to permit harm."
..... Titled "A Call to Christian in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy," the letter says the nation is facing a profound moral, spiritual and democratic emergency. Its release coincides what the start of the christian seasons of lent, a period of repentance, self-reflection and resistance to temptation.
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"We through it was important to tie into a season where many Christians go deeper int their faith,: said Adam Russell Taylor, president of Sojouners, a Christian social justice organization."Part of what we're critiquing is the way in which many White evangelical Christian succumb to an unconditional support of the administration, despite the fact that its actions are completely antithetical to the teachings of Jesus."
..... Leaders of all faiths have increasingly spoken out and participated in protests against the polices of the Trump administration, particularly aimed at what many see as overly aggressive efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. Pastors have been arrested and struck with pepper balls during demonstrations.
..... The statement says Christians have a moral obligation to speak out against "citizens and immigrants being demonized, disappeared, and even killed; the erosion of hard-own rights and freedoms; and a calculated effort to reverse America's growing racial and ethnic diversity - all of which are pushing us toward authoritarian and imperial rule."
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"This moment is a defining test of Christian discipleship and civic responsibility," said the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder and director of the Georgetown Center for Faith and Justice in Washington, D.C. "Democratic freedoms are being taken away, and the gospel is being distorted. the vulnerable people Jesus told us to stand with and defend are being targeted and assaulted."
..... Wallis and Taylor organized the collective effort along with Barbara Williams-skinner, president of Baltimore's Sknnier Institute, a faith leadership development organization.
..... About 400 people initially singed the statement, representing a range of christian denominations leaders of Black, Asian and Latino churches and institutions. Hundreds more have added their names since the letter's February 18 [2026] release, organizers say.
..... The Executive Office of the President of the United States, which includes the White House office, did not respond to a request for comment about the statement.
..... The Christian leaders and scholars say in the statement that aside from the risks to democracy, they are troubled by "a Christian faith corrupted by the heretical ideology of white Christian nationalism.
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The Christian leaders and scholars say in the statement that aside from the risks to democracy, they are troubled by "a Christian faith corrupted by the heretical ideology of white Christian nationalism."
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"People look at it as just a democratic crisis, but it's not," said the Rev Cynthia Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, who was among those who signed the letter. "It's a crisis of faith.
..... Christian nationalism, the idea that Christian people and biblical law should govern American life, has seeped into the highs levels of American government with conservative evangelicals becoming a major political force with strong support for Trump.
..... Evangelical pastor Doug Wilson, who has said women should neither vote nor hold religious or plastic leadership positions, was recently invited by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to conduct a service the Pentagon.
..... "There religious leaders have been so unconditionally supportive that it's almost branded this administration as being religious in the minds of many Americans, which is a distortion," said Bishop Raymond Rivera of the Council of Holistic Christian churches and ministries, who also signed the letter. "They've confused proximity to political power with proximity to the power of God. they're not the same."
..... Taylor called such conflation"a form of idolatry" and said the Trump administration in turn has misused Christian language to support its activities, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruitment ads that quote scripture in their appeals - one add, for instance, includes a verse saying "Blessed are the peacemakers."
..... The letter concludes by tying a set of core theological convictions to actions the signers pledge to take in order to practice their faith and protest democracy, including defending voting rights, pursuing peace and standing with unjustly targeted immigrants.
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Dottie Escobedo-Frank, bishop of the United Methodist Church's California-Pacific Conference in Pasadena, said she signed the letter to encourage her southern California community and all christian to live out their callings to serve the downtrodden, demonstrate compassion and challenge politician leaders to act on their behalf.
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However, with church ministries offering food distribution, childcare or elderly assistance having face disruption from ICE officers or anti-immigrant demonstrators, "we're seeing people in our communities who are afraid to live out their faith because of the actions of our government's," she said.
..... Taylor understands many my be justifiably fearful of living out their engage at a time when, "the pages of the authoritarian playbook are very much in effect," he said.
..... He said one way to overcome such fears, aside form leaning into the resilience of faith, is to connect with other Christians.
..... The website acalltochristians.org includes the statement of the faith leaders and a page on which supporters can find ways to get involved.
..... "One of the most consistent refrains in scripture is "d not be afraid,' " Taylor said. "Authoritarian governments thrives on people feeling isolated and overwhelmed, so we're trying to cerate a network of solidarity and courage. We have the power to prevent things from getting worse."