The Catholic Church Strives to Stay True to Teachings While Embracing All, Says Bishop Robert Barron

In the midst of a delicate cultural moment, the Catholic Church faces the challenge of remaining faithful to its teachings while also striving to be an inclusive and welcoming community, as emphasized by Pope Francis. One influential voice in this endeavor is Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota. Known for his popular global Catholic media ministry, Word On Fire, Bishop Barron is a renowned author and speaker on theology and Catholic teaching.

Bishop Barron has recently been chosen as one of the delegates by Pope Francis to participate in a significant event called the Synod on Synodality, happening in Rome throughout October. Representing the largest readjustment of the Catholic Church since Vatican II, this synod involves not only clergy members but also lay leaders, women, and advocates for LGBTQ Catholics.

However, this synod has faced criticism from conservative Catholics who fear that it aims to modify the Church’s core teachings on gender, sexuality, and marriage. In response, Bishop Barron emphasizes that the Church needs to clarify what it means by being a “welcoming church.” He believes that the Church’s embrace should be rooted in love, which entails desiring the good for others rather than mere approval of their lifestyles.

Bishop Barron’s focus lies in helping young Catholics understand their faith and resist being swayed by secular worldviews they encounter in college. His ministry, Word On Fire, has raised funds to provide incoming first-year students with Bibles and study resources to deepen their engagement with Scripture. He encourages young people to explore the rich intellectual tradition of the Catholic faith and offers them an alternative vision.

Notably, Bishop Barron also played a role in actor Shia LaBoeuf’s conversion to Catholicism. During his encounter with LaBoeuf, Bishop Barron exemplified his belief in approaching others with love and compassion, which he considers more meaningful than the term “welcoming” in describing the Church’s mission.