Bishop Barron Responds to Disruption at St. Paul Church Service
Bishop Robert Barron, a notable Catholic leader, has voiced his concerns regarding a recent protest at a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators disrupted the event to voice their opposition to ICE on Sunday.
Barron, who oversees the Diocese of Winona-Rochester—located near St. Paul—and is the founder of Word on Fire ministries, described the incident as “unacceptable.” In a post on X, he expressed his thoughts, stating, “I don’t care what provokes and annoys you. I don’t care what your political views are. Invading churches is unacceptable and a violation of religious freedom.”
During the disruption, some attendees at Cities Church, a Baptist congregation, shouted phrases like “Justice for Renee Good” and other calls for justice within the church.
Barron also expressed his sadness over the escalating anti-ICE sentiment in Minnesota, reflecting on the turmoil within his home state. He remarked, “Violence, retaliation, intimidation, protests, deep mutual suspicion, political instability, fear—these elements are in constant flux.”
He then suggested some potential solutions, urging that the Trump administration and ICE could, for now at least, focus on apprehending illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes. He added that political leaders should stop inciting negativity towards law enforcement, and protesters ought to refrain from interfering with ICE operations. “Everyone on all sides needs to stop yelling at each other and demonizing the enemy. The current situation is unsustainable,” he advised.
In response to the disturbance, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced that the Justice Department would investigate possible civil rights violations committed by those disrupting worship. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that attacks against law enforcement and threats towards Christians would be met with full legal force. White House press secretary Abigail Jackson also criticized the protestors, asserting that “the radical left will not yield.”
Jackson further accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of inciting chaos and enabling unrest in the area, stating, “They should be ashamed for causing this mess.” Despite the turmoil, she affirmed that the Trump administration would uphold the law.
