Two Catholic bishops have expressed regret over praying with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, accusing the White House of using the meeting for political purposes ahead of the midterm elections.
According to The Guardian, Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines issued separate statements after the White House shared footage of the prayer on social media.
The bishops were among 12 Catholic leaders who met administration officials last Thursday to discuss immigration, religious visas and other policy issues.
Grob said the Heritage Foundation had arranged the meeting, which participants understood would include private discussions and possibly a prayer with Trump.
However, the White House released images and video of the bishops praying behind the president’s desk.
“We should never have been put in that position by the White House,” Grob wrote, adding that he felt “a heavy sadness” over the controversy.
Joensen also criticised the incident, saying several administration policies were “blatantly at odds with our Catholic faith”.
“I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes,” he wrote.
Both bishops insisted they had not intended to endorse Trump or any political party.
