Bishop Barron Cites Archbishop Fulton Sheen's Anti-Communism as Relevant Today
As Fulton Sheen approaches beatification, Bishop Robert Barron warns of communism's resurgence and echoes Sheen's opposition to the ideology.
Bishop Robert Barron has issued a warning that communism is experiencing a resurgence in America, drawing parallels to the mid-20th century stance of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, whose beatification is scheduled for Thursday in St. Louis. Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and founder of Word on Fire Ministries, stated that Sheen, a prominent voice against communism in his time, remains a relevant figure.
"Now, you don't need me to tell you that communism is making a comeback right now in our country," Barron said Tuesday near the Gateway Arch. He urged church leaders, like Sheen, to speak out against the ideology, emphasizing its enduring danger.
Archbishop Sheen, a renowned author and television personality, will be beatified at The Dome at America's Center. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside at the ceremony, a significant step toward sainthood. The Vatican approved Sheen's beatification in 2019 after recognizing a miracle involving the recovery of James Fulton Engstrom, a baby born without a pulse in 2010. Pope Leo XIV approved the beatification process in February after years of delays.
Barron's remarks come amid increasing political discourse surrounding communism and democratic socialism in the United States, particularly with the approaching November midterms. Republicans have pointed to the electoral successes of progressive and democratic socialist candidates as indicators of a leftward shift within the Democratic Party.
According to Barron, Sheen viewed communism as fundamentally hostile to religion, believing that atheism was an essential component of the ideology. "Fulton Sheen knew that atheism was not incidental to communism, it was essential to it," Barron explained. In his 1948 book, Communism and the Conscience of the West, Sheen described communism as a totalitarian philosophy aiming to control not only outward actions but also inner thoughts, seeking to function as a church and a doctrine of salvation.
Barron also highlighted Sheen's dual identity as a Catholic bishop and a "very proud American." He stated that this convergence fueled Sheen's strong anti-communist stance, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s. Barron suggested that Sheen believed communism, rooted in Marxist teachings, threatened foundational American principles such as equality, freedom, and individual rights. He argued that Sheen contended that removing God from the equation undermines these principles, asserting that the integrity of a democratic society ultimately depends on belief in God.
Barron encouraged contemporary church leaders to emulate Sheen's example and voice opposition to communism, concluding, "So another way we can claim Fulton Sheen is Fulton Sheen, anti-communist. We need that voice again today."