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Bishop Barron Defends Gospel Sharing Amid Political and Religious Challenges
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In Short: In an interview, Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester clarified the Church's stance on proselytism and interreligious dialogue.
In an interview on EWTN’s 'The World Over with Raymond Arroyo,' Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, addressed the Catholic Church’s commitment to interreligious dialogue and its primary mission to preach the Gospel.
Barron noted that Pope Francis defines proselytism as 'obnoxious evangelization,' emphasizing that authentic Christian proclamation is distinct from aggressive pushiness.
Barron highlighted the relevance of Fulton Sheen’s bold stance against communism in the mid-20th century, drawing parallels to contemporary ideological threats.
When discussing a new Vatican document commemorating the 60th anniversary of Vatican II’s Nostra Aetate, Barron clarified that while respectful dialogue is important, sharing the faith remains nonnegotiable.
Barron also addressed the Vatican’s controversial agreement with Beijing regarding the appointment of bishops, hesitating on specifics but pointing to John Paul II’s approach to dealing with communism as a model.
Barron pushed back against claims that his participation in the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) represented a political endorsement, though he acknowledged the potential influence of his public advocacy.
Barron praised Sheen as a model for modern evangelists, emphasizing both his holiness and his courage in identifying ideological threats.
Looking ahead to Sheen’s beatification, Barron noted the importance of Sheen’s legacy in guiding contemporary evangelists.
What's still developing
- “The fact that Sheen took on communism back in the 1940s and ’50s, when he correctly discerned it was threat No. 1... well, it’s back,” the bishop observed.
- “To love is not to spare the feelings of someone; to love is to will the good of the other.... We don’t say, ‘God is empathy’; we say, ‘God is love.’” This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
Sources
- Ewtnnewslink