Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob yesterday issued what he called a “public apology” over his part in a meeting of bishops at the White House last week. Source: EWTN News.
Archbishop Grob said that over the past few days, he had “received many questions and comments about the October 22 meeting I and 11 other bishops attended at the White House, which was soon thereafter publicised by the administration without the consent of the participants”.
He went on to say that his “intention was never to cause confusion, anger, or disappointment among the people entrusted to my care” and that he issued the statement to provide context for the meeting.
The meeting “was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party” Archbishop Grob said.
Last month, Archbishop Grob explained, he was invited along with other bishops to a private meeting to discuss “matters of importance to the Church and our people, including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity.”
After meeting White House staff and policy advisers, the archbishop said, the group entered the Oval Office, where they were greeted by President Donald Trump.
Archbishop Grob said the group was directed to stand behind the president to pray, and photos were taken afterward.
“Unbeknownst to the group of bishops a video was also taken. But permission for the public distribution or posting of either the video or photos was not given by the bishops,” Archbishop Grob said in his statement. Not long after, photos and the video of the prayer were posted online.
“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,” Archbishop Grob said.
“I feel a heavy sadness, not only over the pain I caused, but also for the fact that something so sacred to a group of religious leaders, prayer to our Heavenly Father, would be manipulated in that way,” he continued.
Archbishop Grob’s statement comes after another participant at the meeting, Denver Archbishop James Golka defended his participation in the event.
Archbishop Golka said he “knew people might be upset” at the event, but “I thought that this is what Catholics do. We pray for people. No matter whether we agree or disagree on anything, we always pray for our country and leaders”.
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Milwaukee Archbishop Grob issues ‘public apology’ over White House meeting (By Tina Dennelly, EWTN News)
