Overview
- Twelve Catholic bishops met with the White House Faith Office and then prayed over President Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, Oct. 22, an encounter later posted publicly by White House and campaign channels.
- Participating bishops say photos and a video were shared without their permission and that they were not told the prayer would be recorded for public release.
- Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob issued a public apology saying the bishops were “manipulated,” while Denver Archbishop James Golka defended attending but acknowledged the appearance of endorsement; Des Moines Bishop William Joensen expressed regret.
- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said it did not organize or affiliate with the visit, and reports say the White House Faith Office led the meeting with at least one bishop saying a Heritage Foundation representative had invited him.
- Bishops say the multi-hour session raised policy topics such as immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, religious freedom and school choice, yet no public policy commitments were disclosed and the episode has sharpened questions about clerical access, consent and future pastoral practice.