Catholic Bishops Deny Trump Prayer Was Political After White House Shared 30-Second Video
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 25
Catholic Bishops Deny Trump Prayer Was Political After White House Shared 30-Second Video
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 25
Summary
Several Roman Catholic bishops said their Oval Office prayer with President Trump was not meant as an election-season endorsement after a White House official posted a video of the meeting online.
The footage—less than 30 seconds long—spread rapidly on social media and pulled the encounter into the polarized politics of both the country and the church.
Archbishop James Golka of Denver, who led the prayer, said he never intended the meeting to be seen as political, while Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines said the gathering had been exploited for partisan purposes.
Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee apologized publicly Sunday and said the White House shared the video without the bishops’ permission, calling it a manipulation of something sacred.