In an era where God is dismantling facades, Bishop Mariann Budde’s actions have thrust her into the spotlight—and not for reasons aligning with her public persona. As reported by The Gateway Pundit, Budde, who famously criticized President Donald Trump during an inaugural prayer service, has been exposed for pocketing a staggering $53 million in taxpayer funds through her organization, Episcopal Migration Ministries.
Budde’s words during the National Prayer Service painted her as a champion for the vulnerable. She implored President Trump to show compassion towards groups like illegal immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community. However, her sanctimonious appeals now ring hollow in light of revelations about the financial windfall her organization has reaped from federal programs. The very compassion she championed appears entangled with a profit motive, as EMM cashed in $53 million in 2023 alone to resettle just 3,600 individuals.
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The hypocrisy is glaring. While Bishop Budde’s moral posturing calls for social justice, her organization’s deep entanglement with federal funds raises uncomfortable questions about the true motivations behind these advocacy efforts. As the New York Post detailed, in 2024, EMM “sponsored” 6,400 individuals from 48 countries, including Afghans under special humanitarian programs and refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. These newcomers are immediately eligible for welfare benefits comparable to those available to U.S. citizens, a policy that further fuels public debate about resource allocation and national priorities.
Yet, it doesn’t end there. The financial mechanisms underpinning EMM’s operations reveal a sophisticated network designed to maximize profit. The Episcopal Church, legally separate from EMM, actively lobbies in D.C. for programs that directly benefit EMM’s resettlement efforts. Through programs like “Preferred Communities,” initiated during the Obama administration, EMM receives premium payments for resettling refugees facing social or psychological challenges, including LGBTQ+ individuals and survivors of torture.
Moreover, the so-called “Matching Grant” program exemplifies the exploitation of public-private partnerships. For every dollar EMM receives from the Department of Health and Human Services, they only need to contribute 10 cents, supplemented by in-kind donations like used cars and volunteer hours. Even more troubling is the Episcopal Church’s commission on travel loans made to refugees. The taxpayer funds the International Organization for Migration, which provides interest-free airfare loans to refugees. If these loans are repaid, the church pockets 25% of the repayment—a scheme that profits from the very people it purports to help.
In exposing Bishop Budde’s financial dealings, a broader pattern emerges—one where the lines between advocacy and avarice blur. The Bible is clear about the fate of hypocrites. In Matthew 23:27, Jesus condemns the religious leaders of His day, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness.”
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
