Milwaukee archbishop apologizes after White House posts video of bishops praying with Trump

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee has publicly apologized for taking part in a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on October 22. The apology followed the administration's release of photographs and video of the encounter without the knowledge or consent of those present. Grob called what happened a "political photo opportunity" orchestrated by the White House and expressed his "sincere regret" for attending.

Twelve Catholic bishops took part. The Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank, organized the meeting, saying it would address issues of concern to the Church: immigration, visas for religious workers and human dignity. The bishops were told it would be a private conversation with domestic policy officials. After 90 minutes, they were taken to the Oval Office, where Trump greeted them, gave them commemorative items and prayed with them.

Released without consent

The bishops did not know that video was being recorded during the meeting, including the moment of prayer. The White House later posted both the video and the photographs on social media without the authorization of any of the participants. The move alarmed Catholics because the meeting took place just 12 days before the national elections, fueling suspicion that the bishops had been used unwittingly in a campaign event.

Grob wrote his apology from the Dominican Republic, where he was visiting La Sagrada Familia, a sister parish of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In his statement he said the meeting "was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies or his party," and that he never intended "to cause confusion, anger or disappointment" among the faithful in his care.

The archbishop's reservations

In his letter, Grob said he had gone to the White House "without reservations." His sharpest criticism was directed at the administration: "We, the bishops, should never have been put in that position by the White House." Neither he nor the other bishops had authorized the recording of the video or the public release of the images.

Grob also said the Heritage Foundation had organized the event as "the second of two such meetings," after confirming he had not been invited to a similar meeting held in June. He maintained that "the meeting was in no way an endorsement of the president."