Archbishop Paul Coakley, recently elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), held a private meeting at the White House this week with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and senior administration officials amid ongoing tensions between the bishops’ conference and the federal government.
The meeting, which was closed to the press, comes after a year marked by public disagreements between the USCCB and the Trump administration, particularly over immigration enforcement and the withdrawal of federal funding from Catholic organizations involved in migrant services.
In a statement shared publicly by the USCCB, Archbishop Coakley described the meeting as an opportunity to open lines of communication. “Archbishop Coakley had the opportunity for introductory meetings with President Trump, Vice President Vance, and other Administration officials, in which they discussed areas of mutual concern, as well as areas for further dialogue,” the statement said, adding that he was “grateful for the engagement and looks forward to ongoing discussions,” according to LifeSiteNews.
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The meeting follows significant funding cuts initiated shortly after President Trump began his second term. The administration reviewed and reduced federal support for non-governmental organizations involved in immigration services, including the USCCB and Catholic Charities. According to LifeSiteNews, Catholic Charities and the USCCB have received approximately $449 million over the years to assist with the sheltering and transportation of unaccompanied immigrant children.
Catholic Charities has faced increased scrutiny in recent years, particularly after reports that some children placed with sponsors later experienced forced labor, sex trafficking, or other forms of abuse, according to LifeSiteNews. These concerns have intensified debate among Catholics over the role of Church-affiliated organizations in federal immigration programs.
On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” directing the removal of foreign nationals in violation of immigration laws and calling for a review of federal funding to organizations providing services to individuals in the country illegally. The administration later imposed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid distributed through the U.S. Agency for International Development, affecting funding streams connected to both immigration services and other initiatives.
The USCCB responded by filing a lawsuit over previously committed funds, according to LifeSiteNews. In turn, the State Department canceled refugee resettlement contracts with the bishops’ conference, prompting the USCCB to terminate its migrant resettlement work with the federal government.
Despite these disputes, the bishops have continued to speak out publicly against the administration’s immigration policies. During the USCCB’s November Plenary Assembly, the conference approved a “Special Message” addressing immigration. “Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants,” the statement read, according to LifeSiteNews. The message also stated, “We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”
Archbishop Coakley echoed similar concerns in a December interview, criticizing deportation efforts for “instilling fear in a rather widespread manner” and saying that “People have a right to live in security and without fear of random deportations,” according to LifeSiteNews.
At the same time, some bishops have publicly criticized the USCCB’s approach. LifeSiteNews reported that Bishop Joseph Strickland accused the conference of promoting lawlessness while failing to address crimes linked to illegal immigration, stating, “You harm the little ones when you promote lawlessness and turn a blind eye to the rapes, the murders and the attacks of nefarious criminals who waltz across open borders.”
LifeSiteNews also noted that current deportation figures under President Trump are lower than those recorded during previous administrations, with early 2025 removals averaging roughly 800 per day, compared to more than 400,000 removals during a single fiscal year under President Barack Obama.
In addition to immigration, Archbishop Coakley may have raised moral concerns regarding recent policy discussions in Washington. According to LifeSiteNews, President Trump has suggested potential compromises on the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion, and has promoted policies expanding access to in vitro fertilization—both of which conflict with Catholic moral teaching.
As dialogue continues between Church leaders and federal officials, Archbishop Coakley’s meeting signals an effort to engage the administration directly, even as serious disagreements remain over immigration policy, funding priorities, and life issues central to Catholic doctrine.
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