Grob apologizes over White House prayer images

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob apologized after the White House released images and video of him and 11 other Catholic bishops praying with President Donald Trump, saying participants had not consented to public distribution and the gathering was intended as a private policy discussion. The meeting took place in the Oval Office on October 22, less than two weeks before the November midterm elections. In a statement published October 25, Grob said the bishops first met with White House staff and policy advisers for about 90 minutes to discuss issues including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas and human dignity. They were then taken to the Oval Office, where Trump joined them in prayer. Grob said photographs were taken but that the bishops did not know video was being recorded. Grob said the meeting was not an endorsement of Trump, his policies or his party. He apologized for the distress his participation caused, including among people who said they or their families had been harmed by administration policies. He also said he had reservations before attending and wished he had heeded them. Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, who also attended, said he...