Catholic Bishops Regret White House Prayer Photo, Cite Political Exploitation

Two Catholic bishops have publicly apologized after the White House released footage of them praying with President Donald Trump, saying the private meeting was turned into a political campaign photo op without their consent. Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines issued separate statements expressing regret over the October 22 Oval Office gathering, which occurred less than two weeks before the midterm elections Source: The Guardian.

The Meeting

The meeting was arranged by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and included 12 bishops Source: The Guardian. Archbishop Grob stated they were told it would be a private discussion of immigration enforcement, religious-worker visas, and human dignity, with a possible chance to pray privately with the president Source: The Guardian. After 90 minutes with domestic policy staff, they were ushered into the Oval Office, handed commemorative tokens, and directed to stand behind Trump's desk and pray Source: The Guardian. Grob said nobody told them a video was being recorded, and they never agreed to its release Source: CNN.

The Reaction

Archbishop Grob issued a statement headlined "A Public Apology," saying he felt "a heavy sadness" over the pain the images caused and that he had heard from people alarmed that he had unwittingly joined a political event on the eve of a national vote Source: The Guardian. "We should never have been put in that position by the White House," wrote Grob, adding that he had harbored reservations and "wish I had heeded them" Source: The Guardian. Bishop Joensen wrote that "many things tied to this present Administration" were "blatantly at odds with our Catholic faith" Source: The Guardian. He said none of the bishops intended to endorse a party or candidate: "I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes" Source: The Guardian.

Broader Context

The incident highlights the Trump administration's fusion of Christian prayers with government machinery, including the creation of a White House Faith Office in February 2025 Source: The Guardian. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has been careful to avoid political partisanship, and his decision not to visit the United States in 2026 was in large part due to the midterms Source: CNN. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers did not respond to a question about whether the clergy members had cleared the use of their images, instead sending a statement that said: "There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump" Source: CNN.