Vatican Greenlights Beatification of Pioneering Televangelist Fulton Sheen
The Vatican has officially granted approval for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the influential American radio and television preacher, following a significant six-year delay. This decision marks a crucial step toward sainthood for Sheen, whose path was previously obstructed by legal disputes over his remains and subsequent investigations into his handling of clergy sexual misconduct cases.
Overcoming Obstacles to Sainthood
Archbishop Fulton Sheen's journey to beatification has been fraught with challenges. Initially scheduled for December 2019 in Peoria, Illinois, the ceremony was postponed indefinitely with less than three weeks' notice. The delay came after the Diocese of Rochester, New York, where Sheen served as bishop from 1966 to 1969, requested further examination of his tenure and his role in priest assignments.
The investigation specifically focused on Sheen's management of two cases involving priests accused of sexual misconduct. Importantly, Sheen himself was never accused of abuse. Monsignor James Kruse, a top canonical affairs official from Peoria, stated in 2019 that an investigation had cleared Sheen of any wrongdoing. Kruse later expressed frustration, alleging that the Rochester diocese was "sabotaging" the cause in a detailed essay that was temporarily posted on the official Sheen beatification website.
Legal Battles and Final Resting Place
This recent investigation represented the latest hurdle in Sheen's path to sainthood, following an expensive and protracted legal battle over his remains. Sheen, who passed away in 1979, was originally interred under the altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. After a court ruling in 2019, his remains were transferred to Peoria, allowing his niece to bury him there, resolving years of dispute between Sheen's relatives and the New York City archdiocese.
Pioneering Influence in American Catholicism
Fulton Sheen was a remarkably effective evangelizer within the 20th-century American Catholic Church, often credited with pioneering televangelism through his 1950s television series, Life is Worth Living. According to the Catholic University of America, where he both studied and taught before becoming a bishop, Sheen's achievements include winning an Emmy Award, gracing the cover of Time Magazine, and being recognized as one of the most influential Catholics of the 20th century.
Current Developments and Future Ceremony
Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka announced the Vatican's decision through written and video statements on the diocese and Sheen foundation websites. "The Holy See has informed me that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification," Tylka stated. He added that the diocese is collaborating with the Vatican's Dicastery of the Causes of Saints to finalize details for the upcoming beatification ceremony.
Pope Francis had previously confirmed a miracle attributed to Sheen's intercession on July 6, 2019, setting the stage for the original beatification date. With the Vatican's renewed approval, the ceremony can now proceed in Illinois as initially planned, potentially during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, who, like Sheen, was born in Illinois. However, no specific date for the ceremony has been announced at this time.
Bishop Tylka's recent statement made no direct reference to the concerns that prompted the 2019 delay, focusing instead on the positive progression of Sheen's cause. This development underscores the complex interplay of historical legacy, ecclesiastical scrutiny, and legal intricacies that often accompany the canonization process within the Catholic Church.
