Twelve U.S. Catholic bishops say the White House used a private meeting Oct. 22 after releasing a video of them praying for Trump in the Oval Office, a video they say was recorded without their knowledge less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 term.

Twelve U.S. Catholic bishops say the White House used a private meeting Oct. 22 after releasing a video of them praying for Trump in the Oval Office, a video they say was recorded without their knowledge less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 term.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grove issued a "public apology," saying the meeting was "in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party" and that the prayer had been "manipulated."

He added that they came "not to pose for a political photo opportunity for the benefit of a few", and that "we should never have been put in this position by the White House".

Des Moines Bishop William Johnson said he wished he "had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who took advantage of our meeting for partisan political purposes."