Catholic Bishop Robert Barron is pushing back against yet another seasonal attempt to undermine Christianity — and offering a message of hope instead.

In a passionate video shared on social media this week, Barron criticized a recent New Yorker article titled “We’re Still Not Done with Jesus,” which reviewed a new book by religious scholar Elaine Pagels. The piece questions the historical reliability of the Gospels, suggesting they are more myth and Greek literary trope than eyewitness testimony.

Barron was quick to point out what he sees as a predictable pattern.

“As the swallows come back to Capistrano, predictably, so the mainstream media typically chooses Easter as their time to ‘debunk’ Christianity,” Barron said. He called the article “rather annoying” and noted that it cited numerous skeptical scholars — but not a single orthodox Christian voice.

“Jesus is the best attested-to figure in the ancient world. We have more reliable information about Jesus than about Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great.” — Bishop Robert Barron

Among the “tired arguments” Barron challenged was the claim that Christianity’s foundations are based on “unsettled sources” regarding the life and death of Jesus. With evident frustration, he countered, “Jesus is the best attested-to figure in the ancient world. We have more reliable information about Jesus historically than we do about Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great, or Hammurabi. Does anyone doubt the historicity of these characters?”

Barron also took issue with the criticism that the Gospels were written decades after Jesus’ crucifixion. He compared it to a book written about the JFK assassination decades later, noting that credible history often relies on testimonies from eyewitnesses rather than firsthand accounts alone.

“If you’ve got to be an eyewitness to the event to have any historical veracity, we’d eliminate every history book that exists,” he said.

The Bishop reserved special criticism for the article’s reliance on the work of Notre Dame professor Candida Moss, who claimed early Christians fabricated the story of martyrdom to promote a “cult of victimhood.”

“Tell that to Saint Peter. Tell that to Saint Paul. Tell that to every apostle—except John—who died proclaiming the gospel,” Barron said. “Tell that to this whole army of martyrs in the early church. ‘Oh, it’s just a cult of victimhood.’ Come on!”

Despite the familiar attacks, Bishop Barron ended his remarks on a hopeful note. While mainstream media may try to cast doubt on Christianity during the Easter season, Barron believes something far more important is happening quietly in the world.

“What’s really going on in the world today is a revival of Christianity, especially among the young, and I, for one, take that as a sign of great Easter hope,” he said.

The New Yorker did not respond to a request for comment.