Two Catholic bishops have publicly expressed regret over a White House meeting that included a photo of them praying with President Donald Trump, stating the image was distributed without their consent and used for partisan purposes ahead of the midterm elections.
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob issued a statement titled "A Public Apology" on Sunday, acknowledging the backlash he received after the White House released photos and a video of the bishops praying with Trump. Grob described feeling "a heavy sadness" over the incident, stating that the sacred nature of prayer had been "manipulated."
Des Moines Bishop William Joensen also criticized the White House, writing that he wished he had been "more shrewd" to avoid exploitation of the meeting for partisan political purposes. Both bishops emphasized that the gathering was not an endorsement of Trump, his policies, or his party.
The bishops attended the meeting with Trump on Thursday, along with 10 other bishops. The White House had invited them in September to discuss issues including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, abortion, and federal tax credits for private education, according to Grob and Joensen.
When asked whether the White House had obtained consent to release the photos and video, a spokesperson declined to answer. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers instead stated, "There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it."
The bishops’ statements came less than two weeks before the midterm elections, raising questions about the timing and intent behind the White House’s distribution of the images.