Catholic bishops express regret over Oval Office prayer meeting with President Trump
Two U.S. Catholic bishops said they felt the Oval Office prayer session with President Donald Trump was used for partisan purposes and apologized for participating so close to the midterm elections.
Two Catholic bishops said they regretted attending a prayer meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, describing the event as being used for partisan political purposes. Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee said the meeting was "manipulated" and that he was unaware it would be recorded or that the footage would be released publicly. He added that the gathering was not an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party and apologized for any unintended political impact.
Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines also said the meeting had been "exploited" for partisan aims and wished he had acted more cautiously. He expressed a desire to be more prudent in future engagements with political leaders while remaining open to prayer.
President Trump, after the meeting, described it as "a great meeting" and said the clergy "mostly prayed." White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers declined to comment on image permissions, issuing a statement praising Trump’s record on religious issues.
The release of photos and video showing the bishops praying around the president came less than two weeks before the midterm elections, prompting the bishops to address concerns from the Catholic community.