Mario Enzler spent weeks recruiting prelates for the Oval Office prayer, The Pillar reports. Archbishop Coakley was “deeply frustrated,” and Vatican officials call the meeting an insult to Pope Leo XIV.
In the NCR article, a bishop claims the meeting "was not intended to be political per se." That raises real questions about these bishops' ability to judge their own actions accurately. The meeting looks and smells like partisan politics; it is inherently political. Their denials echo those of right-wing Supreme Court justices, who repeatedly insist that they and their decisions are not political. In both cases, the claims ring hollow.
“a highly inappropriate meeting and an insult to Pope Leo.”
Not to mention an insult to the gospel and Our Lady. Politically obtuse goes almost without saying. But how can they be so spiritually obtuse? Are they not obligated to pray daily the Divine Office, which concludes every day with the Magnificat? Mary doesn´t ask God to protect and bless the powerful, but celebrates their overthrow. "He has cast down the mighty from their thrones." But, no, they pray, we lift him up, etc., like the rest of Trump´s famous court prophets, heretics and idolaters of the state. These guys would have blessed Pontius Pilate at the trial and condemnation of Christ.
I have posted in the past the fact that in my diocese has had little to say about the policies of this administration. I have now heard from my bishop, Bishop Barber. Either he was fooled into thinking this was an opportunity for dialog or he has shown his colors. I have felt very frustrated and sad by this emptiness, this lack of direction from my local church. Pope Leo and Francis before him, have provided faith and hope but Rome feels faraway! To be honest, I’m surprised Trump didn’t ask for their pectoral crosses, though I await his saying they wanted to give them to him. I am beyond trying to find good in these organizations that say they speak for Catholics-the Napa Institute, the a heritage foundation, the Federalist Society, and all of their classical schools are feeding an exclusive church with a litmus test I will never pass. Years ago, my teaching contract for the Diocese added an addendum that required I teach the faith truthfully and with fidelity. Signing it was easy at the time! I felt I was too old to do much of the sinning that seemed to be the point. Then some of that became very personal and I retired. It’s very pat but again I ask WWJD?
12 Bishops have been had in 1 visit with Trump. ..or tge 12 lost their minds & lost all credibility along with it... hiw coukd any rational Bishop think thus woukd fo any good? They all look like idiotic pratts , giving a hands on blessing to this most malefic Fascist.
Heritage Foundation used to be a respectful organization prior to Trump in 2016. They got taken over by MAGA and the like and have lost any intellectual integrity. They are trash now.
I can’t in the wide world of sports imagine Catholic Archbishops & Bishops in the United States being hoodwinked into a meeting with Trump unless they live a sequestered life without any news media contact. If they were hoodwinked into serving as political props, the appearance of Paula White-Cain should have been a tipoff that nothing good was going to happen. Are their entire staffs so naive that they didn’t warn their eminences of the danger?
An apology is the minimum mea culpa, a resignation in shame of being so used by an administration that invites comparison to the Antichrist isn’t out of the question.
I'm frustrated by the judgmental attitude over this meeting and prayer. These Bishops had a meeting with the President and a quick search shows they advocated for policies they felt were important to Catholics.
It's unclear how long they spoke to the President, but the search shows the Bishops discussed the topics of religious freedom, school choice, government support and expansion of options for Catholic and private education.
They also discussed immigration and visa pathways for religious workers and clergy, pro-life initiatives, the sanctity of human life, and support for Catholic healthcare and charitable providers.
Once the meeting was over, they had to know they'd be asked to pray for the President, which created the photo op the President wanted. Their error, as everyone has already pointed out, is the President got a photo opportunity close to an important election that could sway Catholic voters.
I didn't hear anything in the video clip that felt like an endorsement. Rather the Bishops prayed for the President and the country.
If I were a Bishop and were invited, I likely would have declined knowing my appearance to be misinterpreted as an endorsement of a deeply controversial person. Sadly, these Bishops chose otherwise. I have to give them the benefit of the doubt that the upside of such a meeting outweighed the downside.
I am thinking I should add, I taught in Catholic school for close to 30 years and never would have taught anything not in keeping with the church’s teaching. My compassion just grew and I would not hide that!
Here’s a question for the bishops involved. Did you pray over Pres. Obama? Did you pray over Pres. Biden? No? Hmmmm! You didn’t like their politics, specifically on the abortion question, never mind that this is a pluralistic society and not every American believes as we Catholics do. So no matter what their private beliefs, they had a duty to ALL American citizens. So what’s the Trump attraction? Listen, your Excellencies. Do you actually think Trump is going to usher in a new era of Christianity in this country? Every single thing he and his administration have done is proof that they have no real allegiance to Jesus, do not care about the very things that the Gospel tells us we MUST care about. I do not believe for one moment that you didn’t know what you were doing when you accepted the invitation to the White House. One dies not become a Bishop without at least some modicum of intelligence and a bit of political shrewdness. Hang your heads in shame.
I am from Denver and am horrified and sickened by the actions of the Archbishop.
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then the Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Matthew 6, verses 5 and 6.
The question is why did they record and broadcast this? What reward have they already received?
In the NCR article, a bishop claims the meeting "was not intended to be political per se." That raises real questions about these bishops' ability to judge their own actions accurately. The meeting looks and smells like partisan politics; it is inherently political. Their denials echo those of right-wing Supreme Court justices, who repeatedly insist that they and their decisions are not political. In both cases, the claims ring hollow.
That's a mockery of the Catholic Church.
Byeley's people by that heritage official.Whoever the heck he is
“a highly inappropriate meeting and an insult to Pope Leo.”
Not to mention an insult to the gospel and Our Lady. Politically obtuse goes almost without saying. But how can they be so spiritually obtuse? Are they not obligated to pray daily the Divine Office, which concludes every day with the Magnificat? Mary doesn´t ask God to protect and bless the powerful, but celebrates their overthrow. "He has cast down the mighty from their thrones." But, no, they pray, we lift him up, etc., like the rest of Trump´s famous court prophets, heretics and idolaters of the state. These guys would have blessed Pontius Pilate at the trial and condemnation of Christ.
Thank you so much for all that you do, write, coordinate, investigate!!! Praying for you!
I have posted in the past the fact that in my diocese has had little to say about the policies of this administration. I have now heard from my bishop, Bishop Barber. Either he was fooled into thinking this was an opportunity for dialog or he has shown his colors. I have felt very frustrated and sad by this emptiness, this lack of direction from my local church. Pope Leo and Francis before him, have provided faith and hope but Rome feels faraway! To be honest, I’m surprised Trump didn’t ask for their pectoral crosses, though I await his saying they wanted to give them to him. I am beyond trying to find good in these organizations that say they speak for Catholics-the Napa Institute, the a heritage foundation, the Federalist Society, and all of their classical schools are feeding an exclusive church with a litmus test I will never pass. Years ago, my teaching contract for the Diocese added an addendum that required I teach the faith truthfully and with fidelity. Signing it was easy at the time! I felt I was too old to do much of the sinning that seemed to be the point. Then some of that became very personal and I retired. It’s very pat but again I ask WWJD?
12 Bishops have been had in 1 visit with Trump. ..or tge 12 lost their minds & lost all credibility along with it... hiw coukd any rational Bishop think thus woukd fo any good? They all look like idiotic pratts , giving a hands on blessing to this most malefic Fascist.
Hennen was a Leo appointment and my old pastor. I am absolutely shocked.
I’m from Davenport and am also shocked Bishop Hennen went.
Heritage Foundation used to be a respectful organization prior to Trump in 2016. They got taken over by MAGA and the like and have lost any intellectual integrity. They are trash now.
Go Blue Poem
Voting is your right and your power
Not voting keeps Trump in his Ivory tower
The only ones benefiting in Trump's America
Are his family and billionaires, that's their agenda
America's reputation is taking a beating
For that reason alone Republicans need defeating
Elon Musk is buying Republican politicians
His obscene wealth can only be calculated by mathematicians
Trump has tripled his wealth and still plays the victim
Now everything is more expensive because of him
The DOJ should not be defending Trump's lawlessness
ICE killing immigrants and Americans is our business
Tod Blanche should investigate Trump and his family
Kushner making deals with Putin doesn't help the country
Citizens United is destroying our country
Benefiting only billionaires is what I see
The Big Beautiful Bill saved millions for the billionaire
We pay all the taxes, and Republicans don't care
Steven Miller told ICE agents to be extra cruel
Policies that don't follow the law are their only rule
Republicans broke the immigration system
It wasn't good, but this shit is because of them
Trump wants you to believe there is a lot of voter fraud
Our elections are secure, it's his numbers that are flawed
The thing Trump fears the most is a free and fair election
He has done nothing for us that deserves protection
The Republican party is responsible for our misery
Their policies help billionaires, which is what I see
America deserves better than Hegseth's disgrace
Our military families deserve a clean and safe space
Middle East bases are being left vulnerable
Hegseth and his policies are responsible
America is being put into one crisis after another
Trump doesn't want us to vote & hopes we won't bother
Early voting has begun in many states
Democracy is more valuable than Trump's rebates
SLAVA UKRAINI, SLAVA UKRAINI
Link didn't work for me to petition.
I can’t in the wide world of sports imagine Catholic Archbishops & Bishops in the United States being hoodwinked into a meeting with Trump unless they live a sequestered life without any news media contact. If they were hoodwinked into serving as political props, the appearance of Paula White-Cain should have been a tipoff that nothing good was going to happen. Are their entire staffs so naive that they didn’t warn their eminences of the danger?
An apology is the minimum mea culpa, a resignation in shame of being so used by an administration that invites comparison to the Antichrist isn’t out of the question.
They must not be in good stead with God, Trump is still here, evil as ever.
I'm frustrated by the judgmental attitude over this meeting and prayer. These Bishops had a meeting with the President and a quick search shows they advocated for policies they felt were important to Catholics.
It's unclear how long they spoke to the President, but the search shows the Bishops discussed the topics of religious freedom, school choice, government support and expansion of options for Catholic and private education.
They also discussed immigration and visa pathways for religious workers and clergy, pro-life initiatives, the sanctity of human life, and support for Catholic healthcare and charitable providers.
Once the meeting was over, they had to know they'd be asked to pray for the President, which created the photo op the President wanted. Their error, as everyone has already pointed out, is the President got a photo opportunity close to an important election that could sway Catholic voters.
I didn't hear anything in the video clip that felt like an endorsement. Rather the Bishops prayed for the President and the country.
If I were a Bishop and were invited, I likely would have declined knowing my appearance to be misinterpreted as an endorsement of a deeply controversial person. Sadly, these Bishops chose otherwise. I have to give them the benefit of the doubt that the upside of such a meeting outweighed the downside.
I am thinking I should add, I taught in Catholic school for close to 30 years and never would have taught anything not in keeping with the church’s teaching. My compassion just grew and I would not hide that!
Here’s a question for the bishops involved. Did you pray over Pres. Obama? Did you pray over Pres. Biden? No? Hmmmm! You didn’t like their politics, specifically on the abortion question, never mind that this is a pluralistic society and not every American believes as we Catholics do. So no matter what their private beliefs, they had a duty to ALL American citizens. So what’s the Trump attraction? Listen, your Excellencies. Do you actually think Trump is going to usher in a new era of Christianity in this country? Every single thing he and his administration have done is proof that they have no real allegiance to Jesus, do not care about the very things that the Gospel tells us we MUST care about. I do not believe for one moment that you didn’t know what you were doing when you accepted the invitation to the White House. One dies not become a Bishop without at least some modicum of intelligence and a bit of political shrewdness. Hang your heads in shame.
I am from Denver and am horrified and sickened by the actions of the Archbishop.
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then the Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Matthew 6, verses 5 and 6.
The question is why did they record and broadcast this? What reward have they already received?