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Catholic Bishops Accuse White House of Manipulation Over Prayer Video
Confirmed
In Short: Catholic bishops who prayed with President Trump say they felt manipulated by White House officials.
Multiple Catholic bishops who were seen praying over President Donald Trump in a widely shared video last week now say they felt manipulated by White House officials.
In a letter titled 'A Public Apology,' Bishop Thomas Grob said he and other bishops met with White House officials for roughly 90 minutes in a gathering organized by the Heritage Foundation.
'Most of the day was taken up with talks between the bishops and the administration on things like immigration and matters of human dignity,' Bishop John Hammons wrote.
However, the bishops were reportedly assured that no photographs would be made public. Instead, a video was taken 'unbeknownst to the group of bishops,' Grob said.
The bishops criticized the video, which visually resembled instances when the president was prayed over by evangelical pastors who have backed him, as a de facto endorsement of the president and his agenda fewer than two weeks before the midterm elections.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the video, stating, 'There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump,' citing examples such as the administration’s opposition to gender-affirming care for transgender children and the president’s decision to pardon activists convicted for blockading abortion clinic entrances.
Denver Archbishop James Golka, seen praying in the video, defended the prayer in an interview with his archdiocesan newspaper, insisting it was not an endorsement.
Among the topics discussed were immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, exploitation of poor people, stricter regulation of abortion medication, concerns about in-vitro fertilization, the promotion of reproductive medicine that addresses root causes of infertility, protecting children from pornography, federal tax credits for private education, and religious freedom.
The bishops emphasized that they came to the meeting in good faith to work for the betterment of their fellow human beings, to ease their suffering, and to build up the common good, not to pose for a political photo opportunity.
'We pray for people. We bless people who need blessing. And we all need blessing, every single one of us. That’s what we do,' one bishop said.
What this adds
The meeting took place on October 22, 2026, and involved 12 Catholic bishops who were invited to discuss matters important to the Catholic Church, including human dignity and immigration enforcement.
Background
The meeting took place on October 22, 2026, and involved 12 Catholic bishops who were invited to discuss matters important to the Catholic Church, including human dignity and immigration enforcement.
What's confirmed
- Multiple Catholic bishops who were seen praying over President Donald Trump in a widely shared video last week now say they felt manipulated by White House officials.
- In a letter titled 'A Public Apology,' Bishop Thomas Grob said he and other bishops met with White House officials for roughly 90 minutes in a gathering organized by the Heritage Foundation.
- 'Most of the day was taken up with talks between the bishops and the administration on things like immigration and matters of human dignity,' Bishop John Hammons wrote.
- However, the bishops were reportedly assured that no photographs would be made public. Instead, a video was taken 'unbeknownst to the group of bishops,' Grob said.
- The bishops criticized the video, which visually resembled instances when the president was prayed over by evangelical pastors who have backed him, as a de facto endorsement of the president and his agenda fewer than two weeks before the midterm elections.
- White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the video, stating, 'There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump,' citing examples such as the administration’s opposition to gender-affirming care for transgender children and the president’s decision to pardon activists convicted for blockading abortion clinic entrances.
- Denver Archbishop James Golka, seen praying in the video, defended the prayer in an interview with his archdiocesan newspaper, insisting it was not an endorsement.
- Among the topics discussed were immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, exploitation of poor people, stricter regulation of abortion medication, concerns about in-vitro fertilization, the promotion of reproductive medicine that addresses root causes of infertility, protecting children from pornography, federal tax credits for private education, and religious freedom.
- The bishops emphasized that they came to the meeting in good faith to work for the betterment of their fellow human beings, to ease their suffering, and to build up the common good, not to pose for a political photo opportunity.
- 'We pray for people. We bless people who need blessing. And we all need blessing, every single one of us. That’s what we do,' one bishop said.
What's still developing
- The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, has urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and vote-selling ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- According to him, “a credible electoral process would help restore public confidence and place Nigeria on the path of international respect and integrity”.
- “Anything short of transparent, free, fair and credible elections in 2027 would be a serious disservice to our country,” Ndagoso said.
- Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented at the event by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, acknowledged the Catholic Church’s contributions to Nigeria’s education, healthcare, human development and peace-building efforts.
- He also urged the church to intensify prayers for peaceful and successful 2027 general elections, saying electoral peace-building would require both civic responsibility and divine intervention.
- Ndagoso, who is also the Archbishop of the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, made the call on Sunday in Osogbo, Osun State, while delivering his address at the opening session of the second plenary meeting of the CBCN, hosted by the Osogbo Catholic Diocese.
- The Catholic bishops’ president expressed concern over growing disenchantment among Nigerians, particularly fears surrounding possible manipulation of the electoral process and doubts over whether votes would count.
- He called on Catholic lay faithful and other Nigerians to participate actively in the political process, urging them to reject vote-buying, vote-selling, political cronyism and cynicism.
- “What happened in Osun elections has given a glimmer of hope and confidence to many Nigerians. We hope it is a good sign of better things to come in the 2027 General Elections,” he said.
- “We call upon and encourage our lay faithful and indeed all people of goodwill to reject vote-selling and buying, and resist the temptation of political cronyism and cynicism,” Ndagoso said.
- The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has raised concerns over growing political polarisation and the manipulation of ethnic identities and tribal sentiments for political purposes, among others, calling for responsible action to promote peace and justice.
- In a pastoral statement issued on Wednesday, September 30, following their extraordinary plenary meeting on Tuesday, September 29, the Catholic Bishops also expressed concern over what they described as the shrinking space for freedom of expression, particularly for the media and civil society.