Cause for beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen to proceed

Two and a half years ago, Walt was saddened to report that the cause for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen had stalled, because of a dispute between the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Peoria over the location of his remains.

Before a beatification can be finalized, the remains of the deceased must be inspected and first-class relics prepared. This would normally be done in the place where the person to be beatified was buried. Archbishop Sheen is buried in the crypt of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, but the cause for beatification is being led by the Diocese of Peoria, where Archbishop Sheen was born and raised, and began his priesthood. Hence the conflict.

This week, New York Judge (((Arlene Bluth))) ruled that Archbishop Sheen's remains should be transferred from New York to Peoria, as requested by the late prelate's family, who showed that in his will the archbishop had indicated a desire to be buried in a cemetery in Queens, New York -- a wish the archdiocese had apparently ignored. The judge said that it was "understandable and important" that the family now wished to have Archbishop Sheen buried in Peoria, since the move would resolve the ecclesiastical conflict that has blocked the cause for the archbishop's beatification.