Archbishop Grob Apologizes for White House Prayer Scene
From a sister parish abroad, he says the Oval Office prayer was never a party endorsement and that photos were posted without consent.
Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee has issued a public apology for his part in an Oct. 22 White House meeting that ended with bishops praying behind President Donald Trump. He said photographs and a video of that moment were publicized without the consent of the participants.
Writing from the Dominican Republic, where he is visiting a sister parish, Archbishop Grob stated that his “intention was never to cause confusion, anger, or disappointment among the people entrusted to my care.”
What Happened on Oct. 22
The gathering was organized by the Heritage Foundation. Bishops met with White House staff to discuss immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity. After about 90 minutes, they entered the Oval Office, where they prayed behind the president. Images from the scene were later posted online without permission, the archbishop said.
Archbishop Grob stressed that the meeting “was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party.” He expressed sadness that prayer “would be manipulated in that way.”
He acknowledged that he had gone to the encounter “without reservations” and said he wished he had heeded any reservations he might have had. He apologized for any damage the episode caused among the faithful in his care.
Criticism and a Fellow Bishop’s Defense
The statement followed public criticism of the bishops’ appearance in the Oval Office and of the circulating images. Denver Archbishop James Golka had defended the event.
Archbishop Grob’s apology reaffirms the pastoral bond with his people and the meaning of prayer in public life. By rejecting any reading of the photographed moment as a partisan blessing, he sought to address the confusion, anger, and disappointment the images had stirred among Catholics who looked to him for clear witness.