A historical call to action
Thousands are heading to St. Louis this Thursday for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the high-profile Catholic author and TV star of the 20th century. While the event marks a major milestone on the path to sainthood, Bishop Robert Barron is using the moment to signal a pivot back to Sheen's ideological roots.
In a video from the St. Louis Gateway Arch, Bishop Barron—who leads the Diocese of Winona-Rochester—argued that Sheen’s mid-century opposition to communism is lowkey exactly what the current political climate needs. Barron claimed, "Now, you don't need me to tell you that communism is making a comeback right now in our country." He’s pushing for religious leaders to channel that same energy to combat what he views as a dangerous re-emergence of the ideology.
The roots of the argument
Sheen famously viewed communism as a "complete philosophy of life" that, because it rejects religion, ends up demanding total control over a person’s body and soul. Barron highlighted that Sheen didn't see atheism as just a side effect of communism, but as a core requirement. According to Barron, Sheen believed that stripping God out of the public consciousness creates a domino effect, eventually wiping out equality and individual rights.
It’s giving 1940s rhetoric, but for the 2026 midterms. Republicans are currently leaning hard into this narrative, pointing to progressive election wins as evidence of a socialist shift in the Democratic Party. For Barron, the intersection of American patriotism and Catholic principles is the main character energy required to navigate today’s polarized landscape. He believes that the integrity of our democratic society depends on keeping faith in the mix.
Why it matters
With Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle set to preside over the beatification on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, the Church is putting Sheen front and center. By framing the late archbishop as a model for modern political engagement, Bishop Barron is signaling that he wants the Church to take a more active, anti-communist stance in the culture wars currently heating up ahead of the November midterms.
