Follow-Up: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Says It Is Not Linked to the White House Oval Office Prayer Event
Washington — The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) told AFP on Thursday, October 22, that it was not linked to a video showing a group praying with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
"This was not something that the USCCB organized. It is not affiliated with the Conference. I have no further information," said conference spokesperson Chieko Noguchi.
Earlier, presidential aide Margo Martin shared a video on X showing Trump seated at his desk, flanked by clergy wearing collars, with one placing a hand on the president's shoulder and praying aloud; the post was captioned "Catholic Archbishops and Bishops pray with President Trump in the Oval Office." The White House later confirmed to AFP that the president had met with a dozen Catholic faith leaders, including the archbishops of Denver, Milwaukee and Kansas City. GSM reported on the prayer gathering on October 22 (see Milwaukee Archbishop Grob and about ten bishops pray for Trump in the Oval Office); the bishops' conference has now publicly distanced itself from the event.
AFP noted that the Trump administration's relationship with the Catholic Church has been fraught, particularly over the policy of deporting migrants.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于华盛顿的圣母无玷始胎国家朝圣地圣殿内景（资料图）。照片：Farragutful，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Interior of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. (file photo). Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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