Vatican Approves Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen
The journey toward sainthood for renowned American Catholic evangelist Archbishop Fulton Sheen made significant progress this week, as the Vatican has approved his beatification, set to occur later this year.
The Diocese of Peoria shared the news, marking a notable moment for the Illinois native six years after his beatification was delayed.
In an interview on Monday, Peoria Bishop Luis Tilka expressed the importance of this development. He noted that this was a pivotal moment not just for the local church, but for the Catholic community in the United States and worldwide, adding that the Roman Curia would finalize the beatification process.
Archbishop Sheen, once dubbed “the greatest communicator of the 20th century” by evangelical icon Billy Graham, made his mark as a radio broadcaster for two decades before launching the television series “Life is Worth Living” in the 1950s. He later hosted similar shows in the 1960s. In 1953, he even won an Emmy Award for Best Character, surpassing notable figures like Edward R. Murrow and Lucille Ball.
That same year, he famously took to the airwaves to criticize Joseph Stalin, comparing him to characters from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. He asserted forcefully, “Stalin must be sentenced someday,” just a month before Stalin’s passing.
Some scholars believe that Sheen’s ability to present Catholicism in a palatable way to the American public during a time of notable anti-Catholic sentiment helped pave the path for the election of the first Catholic president, John F. Kennedy.
However, in 2019, the Vatican unexpectedly postponed Sheen’s beatification just weeks ahead of the planned ceremony. This decision was linked to a dispute concerning the ownership of his remains and concerns regarding how he addressed a case involving an abusive priest in his diocese.
Despite extensive inquiries, including one led by the state attorney general, no allegations against Archbishop Sheen have been publicly stated. An investigation in 2019 revealed that he did not endanger any children nor cover up any abuse, according to Priest James Kruse, the former Director of Canonization for the Diocese of Peoria.
Moreover, Pope Francis had earlier given the green light to a miracle attributed to Sheen’s intercession in 2019, setting the stage for his beatification until the abrupt postponement.
A panel of medical experts had unanimously approved miracles connected to Sheen’s name back in March 2014. A specific case involved the parents of a stillborn baby who prayed for Sheen’s intercession, leading to a miraculous recovery.
By June that same year, a seven-member Theological Committee concurred with the medical team’s findings, affirming the path toward Sheen’s beatification.
