TV evangelist Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified

The Holy See recently informed Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria that the cause could proceed to beatification.

The televangelist’s cause for canonisation was first opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, and he was referred to as a Servant of God. Pope Benedict XVI declared Archbishop Sheen Venerable in June 2012. A miracle that came after his intercession was sought was approved in 2014.

But the cause was suspended that year because of an ownership dispute over where his remains should be. The Archdiocese of New York had denied a request to move the body to Peoria but, in 2019, a New York Appeals Court ruled the earthly remains of Archbishop Sheen could be moved to St Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

Pope Francis approved of the miracle attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Sheen in 2019. The beatification was set for December 21, 2019, but a further delay occurred when more time was allowed for examination of the archbishop’s life.

Bishop Tylka described Archbishop Sheen as “one of the greatest voices of evangelisation in the Church and the world in the 20th century”. He was a “trailblazer” due to his Emmy-winning television show Life Is Worth Living, which aired from 1952 until 1957, discussing morality and Catholicism.

Archbishop Sheen “reached millions of people because of [the show]”, Bishop Tylka said. “He was so far ahead of his time in that reality that we take for granted today.”

Bishop Tylka thanked the Holy See, his brother bishops, clergy and laypeople for the collaboration and prayers that led to Archbishop Sheen’s beatification, which will be “a special blessing for the Church in the United States, where he was a powerful evangelist on radio, television and in personal appearances”.

The Diocese of Peoria is working with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican to determine the details for the upcoming beatification.

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Venerable Fulton Sheen to be beatified (by Tessa Gervasini/EWTN News)