Catholic Bishops Pray Over Trump in Oval Office
Denver Archbishop James Golka and about a dozen U.S. Catholic bishops prayed over President Donald Trump at the White House, prompting Golka to say the video was never meant as an endorsement.
Denver Archbishop James Golka and a delegation of nearly a dozen U.S. Catholic bishops met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, October 22, and concluded the meeting by praying over the president. Golka led the central intercessory prayer and laid his hand on Trump's shoulder, asking God's blessing upon the president and the nation.
According to White House Faith Director Jenny Korn, the discussion covered religious freedom, school choice, family tax credits, religious visas and the protection of human life. The bishops who took part included Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee, Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas, Bishop Thomas Joseph Hennen of Baker, Bishop James Wall of Gallup, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Bishop Michael Barber of Oakland and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines.
The Archdiocese of Denver later issued a statement saying Golka had asked God's blessing on the president and the nation, expressing gratitude for « our beautiful nation » and asking the Holy Spirit « to surround our country to protect us against any influence of evil. » The archdiocese said it welcomed continued conversation on the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death, and the God-given dignity of every person. It described praying for public officials as a longstanding Catholic practice, rooted in St. Paul's instruction to pray for all who hold authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and stressed that it was not an endorsement of any candidate or party.
The episode drew criticism after the White House posted the video roughly twelve days before the election. In an interview with the Denver Catholic, the archdiocese's newspaper, Golka acknowledged that many viewers had read the clip as an endorsement. « I understand that many people saw the video, posted by the Administration twelve days before an election, as an endorsement, » he said. « That was never my intention. »
Golka said the invitation had come months earlier, after a June session in which faith leaders pressed the administration on immigration, religious freedom and visas for religious workers. He said progress made by task forces after that meeting encouraged him to accept, although he knew the visit « could be shared and some might use it for political purposes. » He added that he learned only shortly before the visit that he would be the one leading the prayer. The bishops first spent about three hours with the White House Faith Office on religious worker visas, protection of life, religious freedom and school choice.
Golka said he had been asked by friends why he took part and answered simply that he was acting as a Catholic priest. He also said he was heartbroken that people were hurt and criticized those he said were using the moment to sow division, calling that « not a fruit of the Spirit. » He urged Catholics to look past headlines he described as often crafted to provoke.
The reaction has extended beyond the United States. Catholic commentator Christopher Hale reported in his Letters from Leo newsletter that a senior official at the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops called the meeting « a highly inappropriate meeting and insult to Pope Leo. » Hale wrote that Golka's account stopped short of an apology and did not mention Paula White-Cain, the televangelist and White House Faith Office adviser who stood behind Trump's chair as the bishops laid hands on him. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has said it neither organized the meeting nor is affiliated with it.
Golka closed his remarks with a pledge that the Church would bring the same message to leaders of both major parties. « This work helps only if the Church carries the same message to leaders of both parties. We will, » he said.
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