Bishops praying with Trump show why faith makes a poor campaign prop: atheism column

The bishops praying with Trump in the Oval Office have become a lesson in why religion and campaigns should stay apart. This column is opinion.

National Catholic Reporter reports that a video appeared on Thursday, 22 October. Trump’s campaign account and a White House aide posted it. It came 12 days before the 3 November midterm elections. Denver Archbishop James Golka led the prayer. Paula White-Cain, a senior adviser to the White House Faith Office, was present.

What happened after the prayer

The US bishops’ conference said it did not organise the gathering. The Religion Media Centre reports that two bishops have apologised. Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines said the event was used for political ends. Golka said he never meant to endorse the president. Archbishop Emeritus Naumann of Kansas City said he was assured no pictures would be published.

Villanova’s Massimo Faggioli said bishops in a democracy should not appear to bless partisan politics. He warned of “Oval Office bishops”. A Pew survey found Catholic voters split, with 42 percent favouring Democratic House candidates and 39 percent Republican.

An atheist’s view on bishops praying with Trump

I do not need to judge the prayer. Believers can pray for whom they like. My concern is the picture. A photograph of clergy with hands on a candidate, released days before an election, is a campaign ad. It borrows sacred authority for a partisan end.

The apologies make my case. The bishops themselves say they were used. If a church can be used this easily, then secular government protects the church as much as it protects me. Separation is not hostility to religion. It keeps both sides honest.

Religious people are already pushing back. The Religion Media Centre reports that nuns from the Sisters of Charity signed an open letter asking the 12 bishops to apologise publicly. It was reported with 2,500 signatures.

Freethinkers should welcome these believers as allies. Keeping prayer out of campaigns is a cause we share. See also our column on blasphemy law and a TikTok parody in Egypt.

Opinion column. Fact basis: National Catholic Reporter (22 October 2026) and Religion Media Centre bulletins (26 and 27 October 2026). Conclusions are the author’s own.