Catholic Bishops Condemn White House Prayer Photo as 'Manipulated'

Source reports published 27 Oct 2026, 6:02 am – 11:00 am AEST

Following the release of photographs and a video of a prayer meeting between Catholic bishops and President Trump, Archbishop Jeffrey Grob expressed concern that the event was used for political purposes ahead of the midterm elections. The White House defended the meeting, stating it focused on Catholic priorities.

What happened

• Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob publicly apologized for participating in an Oval Office prayer with President Donald Trump, alleging the White House distributed photographs and video of the Thursday prayer without the consent of the 12 participating bishops.
• Grob stated he felt the gathering was manipulated for political gain less than two weeks before the midterm elections.
• He described receiving messages from Catholics expressing concern that the prayer constituted a political endorsement.
• Grob acknowledged reservations before attending and apologized for the distress his participation caused.
• White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended Trump’s record on religious liberty and Catholic priorities, highlighting his efforts to protect religious rights and defend pro-life activists.
• Bishop Robert Barron, a member of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, cautioned against demonizing the president despite disagreements over immigration.
• Several bishops, including William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, criticized the subsequent publicity, stating they never intended to endorse a political candidate or party.
• Denver Archbishop James Golka acknowledged concerns about the video’s political implications but emphasized that praying for elected officials remains a longstanding Catholic practice.
• The meeting, arranged by the Heritage Foundation, addressed immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and other Catholic priorities.
• The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had previously sued the administration over the suspension of refugee resettlement funding.

Original reporting

• PBS NewsHour: Catholic bishops say White House prayer photo with Trump was used politically
  2026-10-26T20:02:13+00:00
• Fox News: White House defends Trump after archbishop calls prayer moment 'manipulated' ahead of midterms
  2026-10-27T01:00:00+00:00