12 Catholic bishops express regret over Oval Office prayer video

Twelve Catholic bishops who prayed with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office this month have expressed regret over the public release of the footage. The video surfaced on social media less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, prompting accusations that the administration used a religious gathering for political purposes.

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines issued separate statements of apology over the weekend. Grob described feeling a heavy sadness over the reaction to the images. He noted that many people were alarmed to see him joining what appeared to be a political event on the eve of a national vote.

Grob stated that the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, arranged the meeting. The bishops were told the session would be a private discussion covering immigration enforcement, religious-worker visas, and human dignity. They were also told there might be a chance to pray privately with the president.

After a 90-minute meeting with domestic policy staff, the group was moved to the Oval Office. Grob said the bishops were handed commemorative tokens and directed to stand behind the president's desk to pray. He claimed no one informed them that video was being recorded and that they never agreed to the footage's release.

Bishop Joensen said officials from the White House Faith Office invited him to the session. He noted that the agenda included fertility treatment incentives, abortion-inducing drugs, and tax credits for private schools. Joensen wrote that many aspects of the current administration are at odds with the Catholic faith. He expressed a wish that he had been more shrewd and less simple, a reference to those who exploited the meeting for partisan purposes.

Archbishop James Golka of Denver told his archdiocese's publication that he never intended the video to serve as an endorsement. He said he was heartbroken that people were hurt and that others were using the moment to sow disunity. Bishop Scott Bullock of Rapid City told the National Catholic Reporter that a Heritage Foundation representative had invited him. He confirmed that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was not unaware of the meeting, though he did not specify who in the leadership knew.

The White House posted the video and photos to social media with the caption Catholic archbishops and bishops praying with the US president. This occurred despite the bishops' stated intention to keep the prayer private. The timing places the event squarely in the middle of the final stretch of the election campaign.

President Trump has integrated Christian prayers into government operations during his second term. He created a White House Faith Office by executive order in February 2025. The same month, he established a justice department-led task force to address anti-Christian bias in federal agencies.

In April, the president faced criticism for posting an AI-generated image of himself on Truth Social that resembled a Jesus-like figure. He later deleted the post, claiming it was supposed to depict him as a doctor making people better. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has held Christian worship services at the Pentagon, which the Associated Press reports have been led by evangelicals.

The bishops are scheduled to hold their annual fall assembly in Baltimore in November. This event will take place about two weeks after the election. Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, who serves as president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, has urged Catholics to prioritize faith over politics before the vote.

Grob ended his public apology with the words sincere regret. He described the bishops as a pilgrim people, a term that includes the leaders themselves. The statements from Grob and Joensen mark the first formal public acknowledgments of regret from the group since the video went viral.