OAKLAND, Calif. — A Catholic bishop from the Bay Area is calling a recent meeting with President Donald Trump that he attended with 11 other bishops “helpful and constructive,” even as two other bishops let their regret be known amid ever-growing criticism.

Bishop Michael Barber, who oversees the Diocese of Oakland, attended the meeting at the White House on Oct. 22. A video posted by White House spokesperson Margo Martin showed the Catholic leaders praying with Trump. A subsequent statement by White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said: “There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump.”

The politicalization of that video caused Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, and Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob to apologize publicly earlier this week.

In his statement, Barber wrote that his motivations for attending the three-hour meeting were to advocate for the diocese, the community and the Catholic Church. He wrote that the topics included the Church’s concerns about abortion, in-vitro fertilization; the community’s fears over deportations and arrests; the need for Visas for international priests; religious freedom in regards to gender identity and DEI; protection for Catholic health care professionals; assisted suicide and restoring contracts for civilian priests serving on military bases.

“The conversations were helpful and constructive and in the spirit of Pope Francis’s guidance,” Barber wrote of the the late pope’s third encyclical that he titled, “Fratelli Tuddie” or “All Brothers and Sisters.”

“Either we stake all on dialogue, on the culture of encounter,” Barber wrote, quoting Pope Francis, “or we all lose.”

Not all of his parishoners seem to agree. Protesters gathered outside Barber’s office on Thursday.

“There are significant points of disagreement on matters of faith and morals between the Catholic Church and the Democratic and Republican parties,” Barber wrote, “It is urgent, therefore, that we communicate with one another and participate as faithful citizens.”

Barber wrote he also was following direction from Pope Leo XIV after the current pope’s meeting with Spain President Pedro Sanchez earlier this year that emphasized the need “to foster constructive dialogue between the local Church and public authorities … based on mutual respect and aimed at promoting the common good.”

“That,” Barber continued, “is why I went to Washington.”

In his sorrow, Grob, the Milwaukee archbishop, wrote a statement titled “A Public Apology,” and said he felt “a heavy sadness” not only that he caused pain to his parishoners by going but that “something so sacred to a group of religious leaders, prayer to our Heavenly Father, would be manipulated in that way.”

Joensen, the bishop from Des Moines, Iowa, wrote that “I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purpose. I pray I am more prudent and wise going forward, even as I remain resolute in my openness to engaging and praying for political leaders at all levels.”

He also added: “In no way did any of us intend by our involvement to endorse any political party and any individual candidate.”

Despite the commotion, Barber expressed gratitude for the invitation and his attendance.

“I was grateful to be invited to the White House and meet with the President of the United States,” he wrote. “I hope the opportunity to share our faith and values will contribute to the betterment of our country and society.”

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