Milwaukee Archbishop apologizes for White House prayer meeting
Archbishop Jeffrey Grob said the bishops were placed in a political setting without consent and expressed regret for the incident.
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob issued an apology after a White House visit in which he and 11 other bishops prayed in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump. The archbishop said the bishops were invited to discuss church-related issues such as immigration enforcement, religious worker visas and human dignity, and were led to believe the meeting would be private.
"I took some time to weigh the decision and ultimately felt that, if I had the opportunity to offer my voice in a way that might improve the lives of God’s children, I ought to take it," Grob said.
Grob said White House staff escorted the bishops into the Oval Office and positioned them behind the president for prayer, after which videos and photos were recorded without the bishops’ permission. He added that the administration posted the material without consent.
"I soon began receiving messages of serious concern over the possibility that I had inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election," he said.
The archbishop emphasized that the meeting was not an endorsement of the president, his policies or his party and expressed regret for any misunderstanding caused by the episode.
"I did not go without reservations. I wish I had heeded them. Please know that I have heard these concerns, understand how I caused them, and I apologize for any damage my actions have done," Grob said.