WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump
visited the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington June 2 shortly
before he was expected to sign an executive order at the White House to expand
U.S. support for international religious freedom efforts.
The crosstown trip was excoriated by several Catholic leaders,
including Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, who said he found it
"baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself
to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our
religious principles" by allowing the visit.
The Trumps' visit to the shrine in Northeast Washington came on
the 41st anniversary of the start of St. John Paul II's pilgrimage to his
native Poland, the first trip by the pope during which he repeatedly addressed
religious and political freedom.
The White House said the president offered no remarks during the
visit. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accompanied the Trumps during the brief
stay at the shrine.
About 100 people, including children and their parents, had
gathered near the shrine and began chanting slogans calling for justice for
George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis
May 25.
Archbishop Gregory said Catholic teaching calls the faithful to
"defend the rights of all people, even those with whom we might
disagree."
The evening before the shrine visit, Trump walked from the White
House to St. John Episcopal Church, which was set afire during protests May 31
that called for the nation to address racism and police violence.
Authorities fired flash-bang shells, gas and rubber bullets to
disperse a crowd that had gathered in Lafayette Square across from the White
House so Trump could walk to the church, where he held up a Bible as
photographers captured the scene.
The crowd was present in the park to protest the death of Floyd
and other African American people at the hands of police.
Archbishop Gregory questioned the decision to disperse the
protesters in such a manner.
"St. John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and
dignity of human beings. His legacy bears vivid witness to that truth. He
certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to
silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place
of worship and peace."