Key facts
- Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Bishop William Joensen regret participating in a prayer meeting with Donald Trump.
- The bishops accused the White House of turning a private prayer into a campaign photo opportunity.
- The White House posted video and photos of the prayer on social media before the November 3 elections.
- Archbishop Grob stated the Heritage Foundation arranged the meeting.
- Bishop Joensen said the agenda covered fertility treatment incentives, abortion-inducing drugs and tax credits for private schools.
Two Catholic bishops have expressed regret over a prayer meeting held with then-President Donald Trump, stating they felt the White House used the event for a political campaign photo opportunity. Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, who were among 12 bishops meeting administration officials last Thursday, issued statements of regret over the weekend. The fallout occurred after the White House shared images and video of the prayer on social media, less than two weeks before the November 3 US elections. Archbishop Grob stated he felt 'heavy sadness' over the pain caused by the images, and that he had heard from people alarmed by his unwitting participation in a political event. Bishop Joensen noted that 'many things tied to this present Administration' were 'blatantly at odds with our Catholic faith'. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative thinktank, arranged the meeting, which bishops were told would be a private discussion on immigration enforcement, religious-worker visas, and human dignity, with a possible private prayer with the president. After the meeting, they were ushered into the Oval Office, given tokens, and directed to pray behind Trump's desk without being informed a video was being recorded or agreeing to its release.