Two Catholic bishops say White House used Oval Office prayer as political photo op without consent

Twelve Catholic bishops walked into the White House on October 22 expecting a private policy discussion. They left having been filmed praying over President Donald Trump in the Oval Office — footage the White House posted to social media within hours, less than two weeks before the midterm elections. Now two of those bishops are publicly apologizing to their congregations, and accusing the administration of exploiting a sacred moment for partisan gain.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob issued a statement titled 'A Public Apology' on October 25, saying the video and photos were distributed 'without the consent of the participants.' Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines followed with his own statement. Neither had intended to endorse Trump, his policies, or his party, both said — but the White House's rapid publication of the footage made it look exactly like that.

I feel a heavy sadness, not only over the pain I caused, but also for the fact that something so sacred to a group of religious leaders, prayer to our Heavenly Father, would be manipulated in that way. We came in good faith to try to work for the betterment of our fellow human beings, to ease their suffering, to build up the common good, and to pray with a president, not to pose for a political photo opportunity to benefit the few. We should never have been put in that position by the White House.— Archbishop Jeffrey Grob, Milwaukee

Grob said the Heritage Foundation — the conservative think tank behind the Project 2025 blueprint for Trump's second term — arranged the meeting. The bishops were given to understand the agenda would address immigration enforcement, religious-worker visas, and human dignity, along with a potential opportunity for private prayer with the president. Following an hour and a half with White House domestic policy staff, the group was led into the Oval Office, given commemorative tokens, and positioned behind Trump's desk to pray. No one told them a video was being recorded, Grob said, and they never agreed to its release.

I did not go without reservations. I wish I had heeded them.— Archbishop Jeffrey Grob, Milwaukee

Joensen said he was invited by officials connected to the White House Faith Office — created by Trump executive order in February 2025 — and that the agenda also included fertility treatment incentives, abortion-inducing drugs, and federal tax credits for private schools. He framed his attendance as an effort to bring Catholic teaching to bear on live policy questions, noting the meeting fell on the Memorial of St. John Paul II.

I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes. I pray I am more prudent and wise going forward, even as I remain resolute in my openness to engaging and praying for political leaders at all levels.— Bishop William Joensen, Des Moines

A third participant, Archbishop James Golka of Denver, told his archdiocese's publication he understood why many saw the video as an endorsement but said it was 'never my intention.' Bishop Scott Bullock of Rapid City told the National Catholic Reporter that a Heritage Foundation representative had invited him, and that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was not entirely in the dark about the meeting, though he stopped short of identifying which leaders had been informed.

When CBS News asked the White House whether it had received the bishops' consent before releasing the photos and video, the press office declined to answer. Press secretary Taylor Rogers said in a statement: 'There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it.'

The timing sharpened the dispute. A Pew Research Center survey conducted recently showed that Trump's approval among U.S. Catholics had fallen to 30% in October 2026, down from 47% at the beginning of his second term. The decline was even sharper among Hispanic Catholics, sliding from 31% to 18%. A joint report from the National Association of Evangelicals, the USCCB's Migration and Refugee Services, and other organizations estimated that more than 10 million Christians in the U.S. are vulnerable to deportation under Trump administration policies, with 61% of them Catholic, and that more than 1 in 6 Catholics are either personally at risk or have a family member who is.

The episode lands inside a broader pattern. By executive order in February 2025, Trump established the White House Faith Office and that same month directed the Justice Department to form a task force aimed at eliminating what he called 'anti-Christian bias' in federal agencies. At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has held Christian worship services. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is not monolithic on Trump: Minnesota Bishop Robert Barron agreed to serve on the president's Religious Liberty Commission, while other bishops have sharply criticized the administration's immigration enforcement as contrary to Catholic teaching. USCCB president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City has urged Catholics to put faith ahead of politics ahead of the vote.

The bishops are scheduled to hold their annual fall assembly in Baltimore in November, roughly two weeks after the midterm elections on November 3.

Why it matters — The episode tests the boundary between religious engagement with government and political endorsement, with Catholic leaders publicly accusing the White House of crossing it — less than two weeks before a national election.

Sources differ on Whether the White House had consent to release the prayer video and photos: Bishops say no consent was given and no video recording was disclosed to them. (osvnews.com / cbsnews.com) vs White House declined to address the consent question; spokesperson did not confirm or deny. (cbsnews.com)

Reported by theguardian.com, religionnews.com, pbs.org, cbsnews.com, osvnews.com