Bishop Robert Barron has accused Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of promoting a Marxist framework in her critique of Western cultural values, following her response to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent defense of shared European and American traditions.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Barron praised Rubio for his Munich Security Conference speech that highlighted the enduring cultural heritage unifying Europe and America—including gothic cathedrals, Dante’s poetry, Shakespeare’s plays, and the Beatles. He noted Rubio’s emphasis on transcending political divides to find common ground in a shared culture rooted in religion.
Barron then turned critical attention to Ocasio-Cortez, who described Western culture as “thin” due to its ephemerality and called for focus on material conditions and class struggle instead. “The entire argument she presents is right out of the Marxist playbook,” Barron stated. He argued that characterizing Western culture as fragile and transient ignores its foundational elements, such as the rule of law, individual rights, democratic systems, and educational institutions.
Barron cited New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example of left-leaning political figures embracing collectivist ideology. He warned this trend is growing among progressive leaders who increasingly adopt unapologetic Marxist principles.
He further noted the historical targeting of religion by Marxism: “Marx himself said the first critique is a critique of religion,” Barron explained. “And his political adepts followed him. The first thing the Marxist tyrannies went after in most cases was religion.”
Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, concluded his remarks by urging Americans to examine the language used by political leaders adopting Marxist philosophies: “Take a look, everybody. Attend to the language. In a way, they’re telling us who they are and what they’re for.”
