Religious leaders call out Trump: ‘The Bible is not a prop. Religion is not a political tool.” [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• President Donald Trump earned criticisms from politicians and religious leaders after forceful dispersal of peaceful demonstrators rallying outside the White House on Monday night to walk over St. John’s church and pose for a photo op.
• Condemning Trump’s action, Father James Martin said that “the Bible is not a prop. A church is not a photo op. Religion is not a political tool. And God is not a plaything.”
• Trump’s visit to St. John’s Church was his own idea according to multiple sources.

The violent dispersal of police toward the peaceful protesters outside the White House on Monday, which President Donald Trump gave a go-signal to, gathered critiques from politicians and religious leaders. The response was made to clear the way for Trump to pass through toward St. John’s church for a photo op.

The chaos started around 6:30 pm on Monday when the US Park Police and National Guard troops started using tear gas and flashbangs against the calm demonstrators. Ironically, during this time, Trump was giving a brief speech in the White House Rose Garden — saying he will protect the peaceful protesters.

A joint statement by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. said that Trump is “ripping” the country apart when Americans are calling for unity over the death of George Floyd last week in Minneapolis.

Both Democratic leaders emphasized that the country needs “real leadership” amid the time of crisis. They also added that Trump’s “continued fanning of the flames of discord, bigotry and violence is cowardly, weak and dangerous.”

Father James Martin, a well-known Jesuit priest and author, told NBC News on Monday, “Using the Bible as a prop while talking about sending in the military, bragging about how your country is the greatest in the world, and publicly mocking people on a daily basis, is pretty much the opposite of all Jesus stood for.”

“This is revolting. The Bible is not a prop. A church is not a photo op. Religion is not a political tool. And God is not a plaything,” Martin added.

Rabbi Jack Moline, president of Interfaith Alliance, released a statement on Monday, “Seeing President Trump stand in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church while holding a Bible in response to calls for racial justice — right after using military force to clear peaceful protesters out of the area — is one of the most flagrant misuses of religion I have ever seen. This only underscores the president’s complete lack of compassion for Black Americans and the lethal consequences of racism.”

Multiple sources told NBC News that Trump’s idea to visit the church was his own as he “wanted the visual.” He was frustrated over news reports that he was brought to the bunker by the Secret Service last Friday night.

Source: AOL.com