Bishop Jeffrey S. Grob apologizes for blessing Donald Trump

Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of Milwaukee issued a public apology on Oct. 25 regarding a video of a meeting between President Donald Trump and a dozen U.S. bishops. The video, circulated by the White House, shows the bishops praying over the president.

Grob stated that the administration publicized the meeting without the consent of the participants. He said the bishops did not permit the public distribution or posting of the photos or the video, which he noted was filmed without their knowledge. Grob expressed sadness that prayer could be manipulated in this way and clarified that the prayer was not an endorsement of the president's policies.

The meeting took place in the Oval Office less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. John White, a professor of politics at The Catholic University of America, told OSV News that the footage risks creating the appearance of a tacit endorsement. Chieko Noguchi, a spokesperson for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the conference had no role in the meeting.