Sheen supporters rejoice as miracle is approved

13 Mar 2014

By The Record

With evidence of her son’s alleged miraculous healing boxed and sealed in front of a portrait of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Bonnie Engstrom gives a reading at a 2011 Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria, Illinois. Photo: CNS

Members of Perth’s Fulton Sheen Society have greeted news that the canonisation of their patron is a step closer with great excitement.

On March 6 the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation in the United States confirmed that a team of Vatican medical experts have given the all clear to a miracle attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Sheen.

Founder and member of the Perth group Daniel Tobin told The Record he was overjoyed when he heard about the latest development.

“We’re thrilled about it, but I must admit, we did expect it to happen,” he said. “This is a very decisive move.”

The Vatican experts reported there was no natural explanation for the survival of a child who was delivered stillborn in 2010 and whose heart did not beat for more than an hour.

In a statement, the president of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation Bishop Daniel Jenky CSC said the approval of the medical team was a “significant step in the cause for the beatification and canonisation of our beloved Fulton Sheen”.

“There are many more steps ahead and more prayers are needed. But today is a good reason to rejoice,” he said.

Mr Tobin, who credited his own conversion to the Catholic faith 50 years ago primarily to the inspiration of Archbishop Sheen, said there are people all over Australia, and indeed the world, who are hoping for his canonisation.

“A lot of people regard him as a saint even though it’s not official… it’s amazing really the level of interest in the man,” he said.

“His influence is right throughout the world.”

Mr Tobin’s own life has been dedicated to spreading the work of Archbishop Sheen, and even his children and grandchildren have taken up the cause.

With the help of his son Martin, Mr Tobin formed the Fulton Sheen Society in 1999, with one of its eight aims being to “promote the cause of the beatification of the Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J Sheen”.

Unlike the cause for the canonisation of Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Sheen’s cause has taken significantly more time since his death in 1979.

His cause for canonisation was officially opened in 2002, and in 2012 Pope Benedict XVI declared the renowned speaker ‘Venerable’.

The case will now be reviewed by a board of theologians, and, if approved, will be examined by cardinals and bishops, before Pope Francis determines whether a miracle can be affirmed or not.

If it is affirmed, Archbishop Sheen would be elevated from the status of ‘Venerable’ to ‘Blessed’.