A week before the inauguration of Donald Trump, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, is asking for prayers for the United States.
In a call to prayer released Friday, January 13, Hiltz notes that while many will be rejoicing, others will anxious about how Trump handles issues related to race, culture and religion.
“Given some of the rhetoric in his campaign for election, they are wondering how tolerant he will be of the multi-racial, -cultural and -religious textures with which the fabric of the United States of America is woven,” Hiltz says.
There is also much worry, he adds, about how the Trump administration will handle the growing gulf between rich and poor in the United States, with many people hoping for programs that will make health care, education and jobs more accessible to Americans.
Trump will take his oath of office as the 45th president of the U.S. next Friday, January 20.
Both Mexicans and Canadians, Hiltz writes, are wondering about what their countries’ relationships with the United States will be like in the coming years. One of Trump’s campaign promises was to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border – to be paid for by Mexico – to prevent undocumented Mexicans from entering the United States.
World leaders, Hiltz says, are also curious to know how he will conduct himself “in the gatherings where they take counsel together for peace and security of the world, and for the care of the earth itself.”
Hiltz suggests that faith is in some sense at America’s core-and that many Americans will be praying as Inauguration Day approaches.
“The motto of the United States is ‘In God We Trust’-words that inspire the very principles and values upon which that nation is built,” he says.
“In truth they are etched on the soul of America. In the spirit of that confession, people of many faith traditions will be praying in coming days with special intent-for their nation, their new President and his administrative team, and all whom they are called to serve.”
Episcopalians, Hiltz says, pray for the country every day, using the words, “Lord, keep this nation under your care and guide us in the way of justice and truth.” Hiltz asks Canadian Anglicans to join them in prayer.
“Let us hold in our prayers the United States of America and all for whom, by birth or by choice, it is home,” his message concludes.
