Words on Water

Bishop Robert Barron

I am a bit put off by the name Bishop Barron has chosen for his online organization, “Word on Fire.”

It just does not fit. 

Bishop Barron is a pretty upbeat guy, who thinks everyone may go to heaven, we are destined to become gods, and those trying to evangelize should stress beauty and avoid morality.

I don’t see any fire. 

It feels like a Catholicism of words alone.

It’s the kind of “I’m OK, you’re OK,” “gentle Jesus meek and mild,” Hallmark, plaster saints, everything-is-ducky-as-it-is, don’t-rock-any-boats kind of Catholicism that really turns me off.

If this is all Catholicism is, why do we need Catholicism?

And where in this is there room for someone who was innocently tortured and then crucified for speaking truth?

I wouldn't mind so much--perhaps Bishop Barron is doing good for some constituency--if it were not for co-opting the term "Word on Fire." That seems sinister. That implies there is nothing more than this. Nothing that actually tests us, like gold tested in fire. Or that might make us repent in ashes. Or that sees things ripe for burning, like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Happy happy joy joy.