From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette-
Televangelist Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is one step closer to becoming the first American-born man -- and the first Emmy-winner -- to be canonized a saint, after Pope Benedict XVI declared him "venerable" on Thursday.
That means he lived a life of "heroic virtue" and can be considered for beatification and canonization. A claim of a miracle for beatification is already pending at the Vatican. It involves a stillborn baby who was revived an hour later. But as a back-up, Ven. Archbishop Sheen's advocates have a case involving a newborn that was documented in Pittsburgh.
"He seems to have a very powerful influence with infants," said the Rev. Andrew Apostoli, a Franciscan from Yonkers, N.Y., who, as vice-postulator of his cause, has a key role in vetting the miracle claims. "At least four cases that I was working with have involved newborn infants and even a pre-born infant."
Canonization is a formal declaration by the Catholic church that someone lived an exemplary life and is in heaven, able to pray for those still on Earth.
Read more:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/pope-declares-catholic-television-pioneer-has-heroic-virtue-642579/#ixzz1zHFz6xka
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