Donald Trump had the Internet up in arms yet again this past week when it was announced that the Republican presidential candidate would meet with a group of black pastors. According to CNN, the event was pegged as “a coalition of 100 African American Evangelical pastors and religious leaders who will endorse the GOP frontrunner after a private meeting at Trump Tower.” Now, however, it seems several clergy members are coming forward to denounce Trump.
Atlanta pastor Bishop Paul S. Morton took to Twitter to share that he was invited to the meeting with Trump, but declined to endorse the candidate “until he learns how to respect people.” He also referred to Trump as “arrogant” and “degrading:”
I was asked 2 meet with Mr Trump too but I refused because until he learns how to respect people you can’t represent me thru my endorsement
— Bishop Paul S Morton (@BishopPMorton) November 27, 2015
We can speak truth w/o being arrogant n degrading like Mr Trump No one will ever stop me from speaking truth but we rebuke God’s Way Be Nice
— Bishop Paul S Morton (@BishopPMorton) November 28, 2015
Two other religious leaders also took to social media to refuse to endorse Trump. Preachers of Detroit reality star Bishop Corletta Vaughn referred to the controversial candidate as “an insult and embarrassment.” Bishop Clarence E. McClendon of the Full Harvest International Church in Los Angeles also took to Facebook with a statement regarding Trump’s meeting, noting that it was present as a meeting “to engage in dialogue.”
“Bishop McClendon was INVITED to attend Monday’s meeting and his name was used as an invitee, but had made no plans to attend the meeting and indeed will NOT be in attendance. The meeting was presented not as a meeting to endorse but as a meeting to engage in dialogue,” the statement read.
Welp. Read what the pastors have to say about Trump below: