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Bishop Joensen says Trump meeting ‘exploited’ for politics, while others clarify backstory
Confirmed
In Short: Two Catholic bishops, William Joensen and Jeffrey Grob, have expressed regret over a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on October 22.
Two Catholic bishops, William Joensen and Jeffrey Grob, have expressed regret over a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on October 22. The meeting, which included prayer at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, was initially intended to discuss issues such as immigration and visas for international clergy.
Joensen, in a statement, said the meeting was arranged by the White House Faith Office to address issues impacting vulnerable populations. However, he acknowledged that he should have been more cautious, citing Jesus' admonition to be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
Grob, the Archbishop of Milwaukee, said he believed the meeting was private and not intended as a political photo opportunity. He issued a public apology for any confusion caused by the video and photos shared publicly.
Both bishops emphasized that their participation was not intended to endorse any political party or candidate. Joensen stated, 'In no way did any of us intend by our involvement to endorse any political party or any individual candidate.'
The bishops also highlighted concerns over the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and the vilification of neighbors, among other issues.
The Associated Press reported that the meeting was organized by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and was supposed to be a private discussion. However, the bishops now feel that the meeting was manipulated and used for political purposes.
A senior official at the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops, speaking on background, called the meeting 'a highly inappropriate meeting and an insult to Pope Leo.'
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops clarified that they did not organize the meeting and were not formally associated with it.
More than 2,500 people have signed a petition expressing their concern over the meeting, and the signatures will be delivered to the bishops and the bishops' conference.
What's confirmed
- "I soon began receiving messages of serious concern over the possibility that I had inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election," he wrote.
- On Oct. 24, two days after the meeting, Joensen issued a statement saying: “I would have done well to be more mindful of Jesus’ admonition [in the Gospel of Matthew]: ‘Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.’” “I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes,” Joensen said.
- The Associated Press reported on Sunday afternoon that two of the twelve bishops who prayed over Trump now regret the meeting, pairing Joensen with Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob, who apologized publicly that morning.
- "without the consent of the participants."
What's still developing
- "sowing of fear, the fracturing of families, the deprivation of due process, and the vilification of our neighbors."
- A second bishop is expressing regret over a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House last week and complained that it has been “exploited” for political gain, while others who attended are clarifying the reasons they went.
- Then he reaches for Matthew 10:16, where Jesus sends his disciples out “like sheep in the midst of wolves” and tells them to be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
- "I regarded this invitation as a distinct opportunity on the Memorial of St. John Paul II to bring the Gospel and the Church’s teachings to bear on contemporary matters that impact people in our Diocese and beyond."
- He candidly expressed regret for not listening to his reservations prior to the meeting, stating, “We should never have been put in that position by the White House.” Bishop Joensen offered a similar sentiment, asserting that numerous aspects of the current administration’s policies contradicted Catholic values.
- This is not just a “photo op” These are Catholic Archbishops and Bishops who spent time talking with us about important issues on religious freedom, school choice, family tax credits, religious visas, and life.
- “He stopped the weaponization of the federal government against Christians, proudly defended and expanded our religious rights, pardoned pro-life activists, stopped the chemical mutilation of our nation’s children, and protected parents’ rights.” Des Moines Bishop William Joensen, 66, also expressed regret in a blog post on Saturday, October 24.
- He stressed that “the meeting was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party.” Grob said he agreed to attend after being told there might be a chance to pray privately with the 80-year-old president.
- The Letters from Leo, citing the Catholic commentator Rocco Palmo, identified Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas, Bishop Scott Bullock of Rapid City and retired Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas among those in the frame.