Venerable Fulton J. Sheen will soon be beatified, now that the Vatican has given the green light, the Diocese of Peoria announced 9 February. No date or location for the beatification was given.
The announcement comes six years after the Holy See postponed his beatification, originally scheduled for December 2019, just weeks before the ceremony.
Archbishop Sheen’s cause, opened in 2002, stalled amid two controversies: a dispute over relocating his remains from St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to Peoria, Illinois, and concerns about whether he adequately addressed clergy sexual abuse while serving as bishop of Rochester from 1966-1969.
However, no accusation has been raised that impugned Archbishop Sheen, and meanwhile, devotion to the archbishop has only increased.
Born in 1895 in Illinois, Archbishop Sheen became one of the most influential Catholic evangelists in US history, reaching millions through radio, television and print.
Known as “God’s microphone,” he hosted NBC’s “The Catholic Hour” and the Emmy-winning TV program “Life Is Worth Living.” He was declared venerable in 2012.
