Bishop Barron warns communism ‘making a comeback’ in America ahead of Fulton Sheen beatification

FIRST ON FOX : As tens of thousands are expected to gather in St.

Louis on Thursday for Archbishop Fulton Sheen's beatification, one church leader is sounding the alarm on the rise of communism in America and urging Catholics to embrace the late archbishop's fierce opposition to the ideology.

In an exclusive video obtained by Fox News Digital, Bishop Robert Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and founder of Word on Fire Ministries, hails Sheen as "one of the great voices against communism in mid-20th century America," a message he says remains relevant today.

"Now, you don't need me to tell you that communism is making a comeback right now in our country," Barron said in front of the Gateway Arch on Tuesday.

"And I think especially churchmen need, like Sheen, to raise their voices against it and, furthermore, as American churchmen, to speak out strongly on both American and Catholic principles against the re-emergence of this still very dangerous ideology." BISHOP BARRON SLAMS 'BORDERLINE COMMUNISTS' SANDERS, MAMDANI AHEAD OF TRUMP PRAYER EVENT: 'ECONOMY THAT KILLS' Sheen, an author and television personality who became one of the Catholic Church's most prominent voices in the 20th century, will be beatified at The Dome at America's Center.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside on behalf of Pope Leo XIV , when Sheen will officially receive the title of "Blessed," a major step toward sainthood.

The Vatican approved Sheen's beatification in 2019 after recognizing a miracle involving the unexplained recovery of James Fulton Engstrom, a baby born without a pulse in 2010, according to The Associated Press.

In February, Pope Leo XIV approved moving forward with Sheen's beatification after years of delays.

Barron's comments come ahead of the November midterms , with communism and democratic socialism emerging as flashpoints in American politics.

Republicans have pointed to recent Democratic primary victories by progressive and democratic socialist candidates as evidence the party is shifting further to the left.

HOW THE 'LONG MARCH' THROUGH THE INSTITUTIONS LED TO SOCIALIST TAKEOVER OF DEM PARTY: 'NEED TO WAKE UP' According to Barron, Sheen believed communism could never coexist with religion , saying Sheen viewed it as "this hostility to religion." "Fulton Sheen knew that atheism was not incidental to communism, it was essential to it," Barron said.