Denver Archbishop: Oval Office Prayer: Not An Endorsement

Archbishop James Golka led a prayer over President Donald Trump in the Oval Office last week. The White House released footage and images of the gathering 12 days before the November 3 midterm elections. The release drew immediate criticism from political observers and members of the public.

Golka told the Denver Catholic that he did not intend his presence to signal support for the president. He stated that the church’s role is to pray for people and bless those who need it. "We pray for people," Golka said. "We bless people who need blessing. And we all need blessing, every single one of us. That’s what we do."

The archbishop said he decided to attend the meeting after praying about it. He viewed the session as a chance to raise issues important to the church. These topics included immigration, visas for religious workers, and the protection of life. He also cited religious freedom and school choice as key discussion points.

Golka acknowledged that the timing of the video release could be seen as political. He noted that he knew people might be upset by the event. "I understand that many people saw the video, posted by the Administration twelve days before an election, as an endorsement. That was never my intention," he said. He pointed to United States bishops’ teaching that the church cannot champion any candidate or party.

The archbishop expressed sadness over the reaction to the event. He described himself as "heartbroken" that people were hurt by the images. He also criticized those who were using the moment to create division. "That’s not a fruit of the Spirit," Golka said. He urged the public to look beyond headlines that are often crafted to provoke.

CNN reported on Monday that two other bishops who attended the event regretted their participation. This sentiment was echoed by Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee. Grob issued a public apology on Sunday for any damage his actions had done. He stated that the attending bishops were told the meeting would be private.

Grob wrote that the group was told there might be an opportunity to pray privately with the president afterward. He said a video was taken without the bishops’ knowledge. "But permission for the public distribution or posting of either the video or photos was not given by the bishops," Grob wrote. He described the event as manipulated by the White House.

The Archdiocese of Denver did not return messages seeking comment late Monday afternoon. Golka became Denver’s archbishop earlier this year. He succeeded Samuel Aquila, who resigned after 13 years in the role. Golka previously served as bishop in Colorado Springs.

The initial meeting with Trump administration officials focused on policy discussions. The bishops then moved to the Oval Office for the prayer. The footage showed Golka and other bishops surrounding the president. The images were shared by the White House and widely circulated on social media platforms.