American Bishop Barron: Scandalous “Superstar”

American Bishop Barron: Scandalous “Superstar”

From “Clean The Church”

Jared Zimmerer Executive Director of Word on Fire Ministry

Like many Catholics I was starting to follow Bishop Robert Barron and started buying his Word on Fire materials. He was spending millions to become a “social media superstar”, and his popularity was growing rapidly. But I was quite troubled to see his behaviors and the people around him when I first met him in person in October of 2017. (We will discuss his heretical messages at another time).

For some reason that is leading to a scandal, Barron is always surrounded by one or more muscular, tattooed men. Everywhere he goes, I mean everywhere Barron goes, he is always accompanied by these men. What’s more disturbing, he employs them, he pays them higher than high salaries, and it appears that one or more of them live with him.

When Barron started his Word on Fire Ministry (“WOF”) he named Jared Zimmerer as its executive director. Based on publicly available information, Zimmerer has been a competitive bodybuilder and became a catechist at his Texas parish but had no experience in non-profits or any executive level experience when Barron hired him. Today, Zimmerer is still an executive at WOF and a very close friend of Barron’s. Disturbingly, Zimmerer keeps posting pictures of himself showing his muscles with very little clothes at times. No morally driven corporation, school, private or public or religious organization would ever allow an executive to post those kinds of pictures online. Zimmerer’s public profile claims that he is an athlete, married and has 6 children. It is ironic to think that Bruce Jenner had the same public profile description at one point and has the same number of children. But back to the issue, why would a Catholic Bishop, a man under obedience, allow an employee to exhibit his body publicly and lustfully?

But wait, Zimmerer is just the tip of the iceberg. It gets worse.  

[There’s] Fr Steven Grunow, CEO of Word on Fire Catholic Ministry – “Father” Father Steve Grunow the CEO of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and a “priest in good standing” according to the Archdioceses of Chicago and Los Angeles. A short, 4.9 feet “priest” with a Napoleon complex that also makes a point to show the world that he has big muscles and is starving for attention (vanity).
Again, why would any man do this? And this man is a priest for crying out loud! Why? I have asked this question to many people including friends of mine that are or were gay and all of them tell me that these patterns are very common amongst gay men. They use these kinds of pictures in their profiles in gay dating sites and apps like Grindr. Does the name Monsignor Burell, (another one of Archbishop Jose Gomez’ staff member) ring a bell?

We also noticed that Barron likes to spend time meeting with young seminarians at the St. John’s Seminary, and frequently invites seminarians and newly ordained priests to stay at his house overnight. Most noticeable, Barron recently invited Fr. Michel Mesa and Fr. Justin Oh.  According to seminarians Mesa and Oh have had a romantic relationship for many years.

Are we insinuating that Bishop Robert Barron is an active homosexual? 

That is a good question that we can not answer with 100% certainty. With that said, Barron’s statements about same-sex marriage and his close relationship and public praising of male sodomy promoter “Fr.” James Martin gives us another disturbing hint in that direction. But Martin is not a bodybuilder so let’s leave him for a future article.

Joseph “Joey” Gloor is Bishop Robert Barron’s “Producer”

Now, meet Joseph Gloor, Barron’s photographer, producer, travel companion, roommate, and closest friend. According to Gloor’s Linkedin profile, he started working for Barron’s WOF in 2016. Gloor claims to be “male model” and was a public-school English teacher before he started working for Barron. Nothing, nothing in his background tells us that he had the experience to be a producer, or photographer.

Why would Barron hire a person like Gloor and why are the two always together? A single, 40 years old, white “male model” working so closely with a Catholic Bishop? I do not know about you, but I find this extremely troubling.

Gloor is not shy and his social media postings show that he is starving for attention and public praise (vanity, lust). He posts half-naked pictures, showing his muscles and tattoos to the world while being employed by a Catholic Bishop. Again, no corporation, school or religious organization in the US would EVER allow an employee to post these kinds of images online or anywhere. Most corporations have a Morals Clause, in their employment contracts. Barron, a Catholic Bishop apparently does not have this clause in his employment contracts or perhaps he allows (and enjoys) this. What is Gloor trying to tell the world and why is Barron allowing this? Why are the Archdioceses’ attorneys not stopping this? Barron is creating a scandal by allowing these public displays of indecency and vanity from his employees. Barron is also creating scandal and raising questions about his sexuality and his views and approval of, vanity, lust and  homosexuality by allowing this.

Joseph Gloor is Bishop Robert Barron’s Highest Paid Employee at About $210,000 Per Year…

It just gets worse! Another important and quite unsettling fact to note is that Joseph Gloor is the least experienced and highest paid employee at WOF ranking a salary of $135,000 per year. Gloor makes more money than the director of development, and the president of WOF (Barron’s brother). Why would Barron pay his photographer and travel companion that much money? The median salary for a documentary producer or photographer in Los Angeles is $52,000 per year and this is for a for-profit company. His work experience does not match this level of salary, period. Gloor also gets free meals at Barron’s house and when traveling. At a 5000 calories daily diet that Gloor claims to have, that becomes another $50,000 to $80,000 yearly expense for WOF. So, in our calculations, Barron is rewarding his “producer” with over $210,000 a year in salary and meals. Plus, around-the-world 5-star travel plus other benefits. That amount of salary with that experience sounds more like a gift or a bribe than a salary. Are you getting the message so far?

Let’s not forget that Barron extorted $1.5 million from the Federal Paycheck Protection Program when he had over $7million in cash reserves that could have covered his payroll expenses for several years and while small businesses in his diocese suffered financially. 

An anonymous source that works for Barron told me that Barron is also a bodybuilder, and he does this to stay fit. We have not found any evidence about this so far. Also, any experienced psychologist or psychiatrist will tell you that bodybuilding at the level that Barron’s boys are, is not a fitness practice but a very dangerous addiction. Maintaining these muscle masses very often requires steroids and other dangerous mind-altering illegal drugs according to several physicians we spoke to.

Bishop Barron’s “Boys”

So, to answer the question is Barron an active homosexual? Well, we really don’t know and affirming this would make us sin. The fact, based on the evidence presented here, is that Barron does enjoy having younger, muscular, tattooed white men around him always and he pays them unusually high salaries that look like bribes to keep them around. We find this disturbing and very questionable to say the least. 

Because Barron’s actions, behaviors, views on same-sex marriage, heretical messages and apparent strange, disturbing musclemen fetish go against Church teachings, it is our right and duty under Canon Law to manifest to the clergy and others of Christ’s faithful our views on matters which concern the good of the Church.

Are we creating a scandal? NO, Barron already created the scandal. We are only exposing it. We have communicated these concerns to Archbishop Jose Gomez and Margaret Graf, the Archdiocese attorney and the Apostolic Nuncio but our numerous written, verbal, and electronic communications have been ignored. We pray for someone with clerical authority to stop Barron for the good of the Church. We pray for the Catholic community to see what we see in Barron, a dangerous prelate with a very large ego, higher ecclesiastical ambitions, who is using his large social media platform to spread heretical messages, praise male-sodomy promoters and who is prone to self-made scandals that are and will continue to damage the Church if we don’t stop him.

For our part, we stopped listening to his heretical messages, donating to WOF or buying any of their materials a long time ago. At times, when we remember how much money we gave this prelate and his Word on Fire scam, we think about suing Barron and WOF for false advertisement and fraud.   Click here to read the above article at source

Editor writes…

I’m at that stage again, folks. It’s at (rare) times like this, that you really do want to be in my company. I’m lost for words. If there is a bishop anywhere who is free from all association with the euphemistally described “gay lifestyle”, let us know.  I have to be honest, I’ve been uneasy about Bishop Barron from almost the first time I saw/heard him on camera.  The Americans seem to know how to make a living out of the Church so I put his performances down as just one more example of that.  Now, I’m wondering if it is a tad more sinister. But notice that people who work under the title “Clean The Church” are experiencing the same hostility from the Church authorities (and their legal representatives) that we experienced.  They are the enemy, not the (in this case) superstar bishop manifestly causing huge scandal.

Is Bishop Barron aware that he might drop dead at any moment (with, of, from or without Covid!) and find himself having to explain his faithless and scandalous life.  Does he believe any of that?  Share your opinions in the comments below but let me share mine right now – nope!  If Bishop Barron believes in God, let alone Judgement and Hell then I’ll switch to a permanent diet of porridge and heather juice.  Don’t ask…

Comments (24)

  • Francis de sales aka DG

    I came across that Bishop in church militant website few years ago when Barron threatened to ban CM by suggesting social media ban. It sounded more like authoritation although I could be wrong there. Then I saw one or two videos by him as he talked mixing the truth with bit of fiction. It gave off a whiff – lots of blurred expressions and obfuscation which tends to confuse the listener in question.

    I found it more disturbing re bodybuilding pals, no females etc. Hence, he’s not setting a good example as a role model of Bishop.

    One thing that struck me was when he was asked re exorcist role. He said he was afraid or wouldn’t like to become an exorcist. Does he believe in devil’s existence or not. Perhaps, he’s just talking but not believing it. You would need a strong belief and prayer as well for any exorcist job. That’s why I was quite surprised at Barron comments as he doesn’t want to go there.

    Had a feeling the reason why he was nominated as a Bishop, he was generating so much money in the social media talks, conferences et al. The Vatican wanted a piece of that. If I could hazard a guess here, me thinks that Barron is probably compromised, one way or another.

    February 7, 2022 at 10:06 pm
  • Marinaio

    When I read about this the other day, I was disgusted. Many “conservative” Catholics consider Bishop Barron to be a great prelate. After he appeared on a talk show with an avowed and active homosexual several years ago, without a word of spiritual admonishment from the Bishop, I started calling his ministry “Word on the Back Burner”, simply because the urgency of “on fire” is nowhere to be found in his evangelism. He extends his hand to the government for help for his ministry when he can’t make ends meet because of the exorbitant (yes, even by California standards) salaries he pays his muscle-bound friends. It is truly what you call it, Editor: a scandal! Our Lord predicted that scandals must come; but oh, how hard they are to endure when the scandalous are baptized Catholics — laymen and clergy. May God help us!

    February 7, 2022 at 10:23 pm
    • editor

      Marinaio,

      You are right – Our Lord warned us that scandals must come, but He added “woe” to those who cause the scandals. God help Bishop Barron because whatever is true about his “relationships”, the fact that they exist IS the scandal.

      February 7, 2022 at 11:34 pm
    • Fidelis

      Marinaio,

      The fact that “conservative” Catholics think this bishop is a great prelate only underlines the ignorance of the faith out there.

      I get the impression that the majority of American bishops are headcases, unbelievers, so I suppose since this one at least talks about God on a TV screen, he’ll seem “great” to them.

      February 8, 2022 at 11:20 pm
  • Michael Brady

    Dear Editor

    Porridge and Heather juice sounds ok to me but given my health everything tastes the same now.

    I say this in all humility and simplicity to cheer us all up and remind us Our Lord is ever present.

    Firstly are we really surprised even if it comes to pass there is substance to this regarding the aforementioned Bishop?

    Thank God for Bishop Schneider as far as lm concerned he is the real deal in this profoundly diabolical epoch we are living in.

    Even if there is only one outstanding shepherd who loves the Lord, Our Catholic faith and The Church then l for one stand publicly with him. Regardless.

    My prayers are with you all

    Every blessing

    Michael

    February 7, 2022 at 10:36 pm
    • editor

      Michael,

      Poor Martin is going through the same thing due to his throat cancer/treatment – everything doesn’t just taste the same, it’s a horrible taste. Poor both of you. I won’t mention chocolate, or fresh cream cakes or a juicy steak – that would be cruel 😀

      I agree about Bishop Schneider – he is a jewel.

      February 7, 2022 at 11:36 pm
    • Michaela

      Michael Brady,

      Me, too – I admire Bishop Schneider a great deal. He always comes across as self-effacing, very humble and full of love for the Church and Jesus. God always sends such special souls in times of crisis, so we should take comfort from that.

      February 8, 2022 at 11:30 pm
  • westminsterfly

    There is evidence that Bp Barron is no stranger to the gym himself – look at the bottom photo on the comments thread of Gloria TV where the same article is discussed: https://gloria.tv/post/7E8yruaYuRyEBkRirTHZUGFNw/replies Bp Barron’s support for homo-heretic Fr James Martin says it all for me. People should stop supporting his ‘Word on Fire’ ministry and then he wouldn’t be able to afford all these musclemen to hang around him. Apart from Bp Schneider and a few others, it seems to me that the majority of the hierarchy these days are either ‘gay’ themselves, or ‘gay-friendly’ or just too plain scared to speak out against same-sex activity for fear of being unpopular. When was the last time you heard a UK member of the hierarchy speak out against this? I have a feeling it was over 20 years ago, and that it was the Scottish Cardinal (Winning?) and if my memory serves me right he was castigated because of it.

    February 8, 2022 at 8:54 am
  • westminsterfly

    PS Another thought – all these ‘Catholic media superstars’ who have these massive apostolates or are never off ‘Catholic’ television, nearly always end up mired in scandal. Ever noticed that? Look at ex-Fr John Corapi and ex-Fr Francis Mary Stone of EWTN, two that come to mind. There have been others. The priesthood/religious life and media stardom just don’t seem to mix somehow. Archbishop Fulton Sheen managed it, but they were different times. Too many temptations these days in the media.

    February 8, 2022 at 9:09 am
    • Josephine

      Westminster Fly,

      I’ve noticed that. I even remember it way back in the sixties when the “singing nun” sang the song Dominique – I think she was the first of these Church media stars. In fact, writing this made me want to find out exactly what happened to her, I just knew that she’d left the convent in the end, but it’s much worse than that. I found this article and the comments below show the confusion among Catholics who think she was “faithful to the end”!
      https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/the-sad-tale-of-the-singing-nun/

      I think Fulton Sheen managed it because his media work was actually teaching the faith, not some expert’s version of it.

      February 8, 2022 at 11:37 am
  • WurdeSmythe

    This is all news to me; how sad if it turns out to be true.

    I don’t understand the “Barron extorted $1.5 million” accusation. I don’t disagree that it was strange for him to take out a loan in that amount if he had the funds in reserve, but how is that extortion?

    I became skeptical of Bp. Barron’s talks when he proved evasive in explaining why the Catholic Church had lost so many faithful – “well, we just need to do better” was his non-reply. In the same conversation he also favorably quoted some conciliar luminary – I’ve forgotten who just now – maybe Thomas Merton? He came across as yet another celebrity modern Churchman. Those examples were sufficient to leave me disinterested in his program.

    February 8, 2022 at 11:36 am
    • Josephine

      Wurdesmythe

      I saw him interviewed by Ben Shapiro who, although a Jew, obviously knew more about the Catholic faith than Barron because he looked sceptical at certain points (maybe surprised would be more accurate). I was totally underwhelmed by him.

      I interpreted the “extortion” comment as being that he got the loan under false pretences – he’s not really conducting a Catholic apostolate, he’s just using the Church for his own ends. I could be wrong, but that’s how I saw it when I read the article.

      February 8, 2022 at 11:41 am
      • Nicky

        Josephine,

        I saw that same interview and was impressed with Ben Shapiro, not the bishop. It’s always interesting to see the reaction of non-Catholics to these heretical types because they seem to know that they are not real Catholics.

        I remember the video posted of an interview between Piers Morgan and an atheist. The atheists corrected Piers’ comments about the Church over and over and Piers actually said that he sounded more Catholic than Piers, which he did, because he was, LOL!

        February 8, 2022 at 3:52 pm
      • Michaela

        Nicky,

        Me, too, impressed with Ben Shapiro, a Jew, but totally unimpressed with the bishop! How did we come to such a pass?

        February 8, 2022 at 11:28 pm
  • Faith of Our Fathers

    I watched Barron on an Interview with Ben Shapiro for o , about 10 Minutes Tops that was enough for me .
    Again, if it walks Like a Duck Quacks Like a Duck Flies with The Ducks it’s a Duck. Or as we would say a Duckey.

    Also Anyone and I don’t care who they are and that includes Bergoglio who Promote Sodomite Reprobate Relationships have to be suspect themselves. How else would anyone promote the Filth of Homosexuality.
    Barron though just remembered me to post in some Torso Muscle Pics of Myself . Even for someone in their 70s
    I may get a Call up from a Wealthy Bishop to say watch His Dog.
    I mean going by the Monies stated above that Job would be at least around £30.000 a Year. 🐈🐕

    February 8, 2022 at 3:32 pm
    • Nicky

      Faith of our Fathers,

      Do you ever watch anything right through?

      February 8, 2022 at 3:49 pm
  • Margaret Mary

    Bishop Barron is a disgrace. I’m never keen on these self-promoting “evangelist” types, especially the Catholic ones.

    February 8, 2022 at 4:50 pm
  • Lily

    I’ve not really seen much of Bishop Barron but it is terrible to find out about another bishop involved with the homosexuals. And the finances are also worrying. How very worldly he must be to live like that.

    February 8, 2022 at 5:34 pm
  • Fidelis

    How in creation did this man get to be a bishop? I find myself saying that a lot, mind you, as so many bishops seem to be of the very poorest quality, but this one takes the award.

    The payments to his “photographer and travel companion” are exorbitant – but the real question has to be why does a bishop need a photographer OR a travel companion? I know plenty of single people and they have to travel on their own if they are going to work commitments and even holidays, when we were allowed to go on holiday.

    I understand the author’s reluctance to say that Bishop Barron is a homosexual but I think we can all draw our own conclusions. I know what I think.

    February 8, 2022 at 11:17 pm
  • Michaela

    I wanted to check the bishop’s position on abortion and found this report
    https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2021/07/01/bishop-barron-i-balk-at-democratic-partys-extreme-position-on-abortion/

    As you read down, you find all he says to Catholics who will not agree (in dialogue!) to any restrictions at all including partial birth, but all he says to them is what are we dialoguing about then? Surely he has to tell such Catholics that they are putting themselves outside the Church? Can you BE a Catholic and support killing a baby during the actual birth process?

    February 8, 2022 at 11:26 pm
    • westminsterfly

      Michaela
      I think he’s a master of sophistry. A lot of so-called ‘conservative’ Catholics appear to have been taken in by him. I think his support for Fr James Martin’s ‘gay’ book was a wake-up call for a lot of them though.

      February 9, 2022 at 9:03 am
  • westminsterfly

    In a similar vein, I was just sent an email about the priest Fr Dariusz Oko who is awaiting trial in Germany for telling the truth about sodomites and paedophiles, in an article titled “About the need to limit homosexual cliques in the Church.” Please sign the petition in support of him:- “Dear Sisters and Brothers, I just found out that the court hearing in Cologne this Friday 11 February has been cancelled. The reason is the illness of my lawyer and co-accused, Fr. Prof. Johannes Stöhr. The next date is also scheduled for Friday, probably 2-3 months from now. Until then, I am still asking for prayers and signatures on the website https://bronmyksiedzaoko.pl (It is in Polish but you can Google translate it)

    February 9, 2022 at 2:20 pm
    • editor

      Westminster Fly,

      Just signed.

      That poor priest – God help him.

      I searched to see if I could find his article but only reports about the article came up, including this one from Lifesitenews
      https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/priest-who-exposed-homoheresy-speaks-out-on-need-to-curb-homosexual-clans-in-church/

      I’d encourage everyone to sign the petition and to pray for this priest.

      February 9, 2022 at 3:24 pm
      • westminsterfly

        I just noticed there are Polish, English, German buttons on the top right hand side of the website so no need to Google translate

        February 9, 2022 at 3:42 pm

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