A Public Apology - Archbishop Jeffrey Grob

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
I write this message to you from the Dominican Republic while visiting with fellow pilgrims our sharing parish, La Sagrada Familia.
 
Over the past several days, I have received many questions and comments about the October 22 meeting I and 11 other bishops attended at the White House, which was soon thereafter publicized by the administration without the consent of the participants. Please know that my intention was never to cause confusion, anger, or disappointment among the people entrusted to my care. My hope here is to provide some measure of context for my decision to participate.
 
To begin, the meeting was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party. In mid-September, I was invited to join a group of a dozen bishops to discuss matters of importance to the Church and our people, including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity. The meeting was the second of two such gatherings arranged by the Heritage Foundation. The first, to which I was not invited, was held last June. We were told the meeting was to be a private discussion, that several Catholic members of the cabinet might make an appearance, and that there could be an opportunity to pray privately with the president.
 
I took some time to weigh the decision and ultimately felt that, if I had the opportunity to offer my voice in a way that might improve the lives of God’s children, I ought to take it. I pray for our elected officials on a daily basis, so it seemed appropriate to do so in person.
 
So, following a 90-minute discussion with White House domestic policy staff and advisors, we were eventually ushered into the Oval Office. The president greeted us, took a seat at his desk and presented us with commemorative tokens. We were then directed to stand behind him and pray. After which several photos were taken and we were ushered out. 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.
 
It did not take long thereafter for the White House to post a video and photos of the prayer. 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. I also heard from some who felt wounded because of the ways they or their family had been harmed by the president’s policies.
 
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. We came in good faith to try to work for the betterment of our fellow human beings, to ease their suffering, to build up the common good, and to pray with a president, not to pose for a political photo opportunity to benefit the few. We should never have been put in that position by the White House. I did not go without reservations. I wish I had heeded them. Please know that I have heard these concerns, understand how I caused them, and I apologize for any damage my actions have done.
 
We are, as ever, a pilgrim people. And that includes bishops.
 
With sincere regret,
 
Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee