Bishop Robert Barron criticizes Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco

Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester criticized Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco regarding the mission of the Church to convert others. In a post on X, Barron described the claim that the Church is not there to convert as disconcerting. He stated that if he believed the Church did not exist to bring people to Christ, he would resign his office and seek honest work.

The criticism followed an interview with CathoBel, in which Cardinal Vesco said the Church should not be proselytizing but should instead participate in society through fraternity and coexistence.

Reports from CathoBel indicate that the statements used in the criticism were inaccurate. The outlet noted that the first quotation regarding the Church's call to conversion was taken out of context. Furthermore, a second quotation attributed to the cardinal was never spoken by him, but instead originated from a summary written by Ad Vaticanum.