Bishops Attack Religious Liberty By Limiting Prayer To Prayer

Catholic bishops launched an assault on religious liberty Monday by insisting that prayer should remain prayer instead of maturing into Republican campaign content. The dispute followed an Oval Office prayer with President Donald Trump attended by Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Des Moines Bishop William Joensen, after which White House aides distributed images of the encounter through political channels. Grob and Joensen objected that the devotional moment had been repackaged as a partisan endorsement, advancing the radical theory that a clergyman’s presence near a politician does not transfer ownership of his conscience, likeness and eternal soul to the politician’s communications staff.

Trump rejected that interpretation, citing the First Amendment’s rarely discussed sponsored-content clause. “The Constitution is very clear, probably clearer on this than anything else: If you pray with the president, that prayer becomes a tremendous campaign advertisement,” Trump said. “People understand that. The Founders understood it, and they would have posted the video immediately because they loved engagement.” Administration officials noted that the bishops had voluntarily entered a building containing Trump, cameras, social media employees and an approaching election. Under established Washington doctrine, that constitutes informed consent to appear in fundraising emails, attack ads and donation texts addressed to PATRIOT until Judgment Day.

Grob’s complaint also raised concerns that religious leaders may begin expecting politicians to respect context, intention or the ordinary meaning of words, standards that would bring the federal government to a halt by lunchtime. Joensen compounded the threat by suggesting that praying for a president is not the same as endorsing every policy, candidate and commemorative merchandise offer associated with him. The White House is now considering waivers informing visitors that all blessings, handshakes, bowed heads and visible expressions of hope become campaign property upon entry. Officials said the policy would protect religious freedom by ensuring worshippers remain free to worship while the president remains free to crop them into an advertisement. Standing within 30 feet of Donald Trump is therefore a binding endorsement of his entire political agenda.

* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.