Vatican Clears Way for Fulton Sheen Beatification
The Holy See notified Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka that the cause can proceed after a six-year inquiry following a postponed Dec. 21, 2019 beatification.
Overview
The Holy See notified Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka that the cause for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification, clearing the way for a ceremony in Peoria, Ill., Tylka said.
Pope Francis confirmed a miracle attributed to Sheen on July 6, 2019 and had set a Dec. 21, 2019 beatification that the Vatican postponed after the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y., requested further investigation, records show.
Monsignor James Kruse said a 2019 Peoria inquiry cleared Sheen of wrongdoing while the Diocese of Rochester contested the cause and sought additional review, according to Kruse's statements and public documents.
The delay followed a court fight over Sheen's remains and questions about his handling of two priests accused of sexual misconduct; he served as Bishop of Rochester from 1966 to 1969, records show.
Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka said the diocese is working with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to set a date but gave no timetable, and the Diocese of Rochester's prior objections may prompt further review.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story to foreground Sheen’s stature while treating misconduct concerns as secondary. They use laudatory descriptors (e.g., “enormously effective evangelizer,” Emmy/Time citations), prioritize institutional celebratory voices (Peoria, Pontifical Missions), and place investigative doubts later or via quoted sources, softening accountability emphasis.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Beatification is the final step before canonization, declaring Sheen 'Blessed' after Vatican approval of a miracle attributed to his intercession.
The Vatican postponed the December 21, 2019 beatification after the Diocese of Rochester requested further investigation into Sheen's handling of priests accused of sexual misconduct during his tenure as bishop from 1966-1969.
Pope Francis approved the 2010 miracle of a stillborn infant, James Fulton, who revived after his parents prayed for Sheen's intercession.
No date or location has been set yet; the Diocese of Peoria is working with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, with details to be released on celebratesheen.com.
A 2019 Peoria inquiry cleared Sheen of wrongdoing, and no new unresolved allegations exist; Rochester's objections were investigated over six years.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.