Catholic Bishops Pray Over Trump in Oval Office

Twelve U.S. Catholic bishops met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Oct. 22, and Denver Archbishop James R. Golka led a prayer for the president and the country in the Oval Office. After video of the prayer circulated online during the final stretch of the election campaign, Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob apologized, saying the bishops expected a private discussion about issues including immigration and human dignity and that the White House publicized images and video without their consent. Golka and the bishops said the meeting and prayer were not intended as an endorsement of Trump, his policies or his party, and regretted that the prayer became a political spectacle. The White House said the meeting also addressed religious freedom, school choice, religious visas, life policy and the role of its Faith Office. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said it did not organize or affiliate with the meeting.