Oakland Catholics Protest Bishop’s White House Prayer
The protesters said the October 22 gathering, attended by about a dozen Catholic bishops and archbishops, was presented publicly in a way that could suggest church leaders endorsed Trump and his administration. The White House posted a video of the prayer, led by Denver Archbishop James Golka, on social media. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said it had not approved the event, and two participants have expressed regret over how it was handled.
Barber did not apologize in a statement published on the Oakland Diocese website. He said the clergy used the meeting to raise concerns including abortion, in-vitro fertilization, deportations and arrests, visas for international priests, and tax credits for Catholic school scholarships. He argued that speaking with elected officials is part of faithful civic participation and noted that he had met with officials from both parties.
Protesters said the timing, close to the election, made the gathering appear political regardless of Barber’s intentions. They also objected to Trump administration policies on immigration and the resumption of federal executions, which they said conflicted with Catholic teaching. Organizer Roberta McLaughlin said she supported dialogue with officials but wanted Barber to acknowledge the effect of the event and say he would not attend a prayer service that could be interpreted as political.
White House Prayer Photo Fuels Anger Among Oakland Catholics
A White House video of bishops praying with Trump gave the administration an image of religious support at a politically charged moment, Oakland protesters said. They gathered outside the diocese’s cathedral on October 29 to challenge Bishop Michael Barber’s participation in the October 22 event and his refusal to apologize.
The gathering came as the election was underway. Protesters said the public presentation risked implying that Catholic leaders backed the administration, despite the bishops’ conference saying it had not sanctioned the event. They pointed to the administration’s treatment of immigrants and refugees and its resumption of federal executions as reasons the church should have spoken forcefully against policies they regard as contrary to Catholic teaching.
Barber said he raised issues including deportations, abortion and school tax credits with administration officials, and defended engaging with elected leaders from both parties. Protest organizer Roberta McLaughlin said dialogue matters, but the timing and public display carried a message beyond the bishop’s stated purpose. The protesters want Barber to recognize that harm and rule out attending a prayer service that could again be used as a political image.
Oakland Bishop Defends Speaking With Trump as Catholics Protest
Bishop Michael Barber defended engaging with President Donald Trump’s administration, saying the October 22 White House meeting gave clergy a chance to raise concerns affecting their community. Those included deportations and arrests, abortion, in-vitro fertilization, visas for international priests and support for Catholic schools. Barber said the church must communicate with elected officials across party lines.
The meeting’s public presentation, however, drew criticism from Oakland Catholics. A White House video showed bishops praying with Trump shortly before the midterm election, and the bishops’ conference said it had not approved the event. Two participants later expressed regret about how it was handled. Protesters said the timing made the gathering appear to endorse the administration, even if that was not Barber’s intent.
The demonstrators also condemned Trump administration policies on immigration and federal executions. They said Barber’s statement did not adequately address the political impression created by the video. Their criticism underscores the risk of treating contact with elected officials as endorsement: Barber described the meeting as advocacy, while protesters demanded that he acknowledge its public impact and avoid similar prayer events that could be presented as partisan.
Reported by KTVU FOX 2, The Oaklandside.
