Sheen was an early adopter of mass media as a form of evangelization in the United States, regularly appearing on "The Catholic Hour" radio programme from 1930 to 1950.

After becoming bishop, he launched his successful "Life Is Worth Living" television series in 1951, attracting millions of viewers.

Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Diocese of Peoria announced the postponement in a news release on Tuesday (Dec. 3), saying the Vatican informed him that Sheen's beatification — one of the last steps before a person is canonized and declared a saint — had been delayed "at the request of a few members of the Bishop's Conference who have asked for further consideration."

Sheen, who died in 1979 at age 84, was originally scheduled to be beatified on Dec. 21.

No specific reason was given for the postponement, although the news release appeared eager to dispel any notion that Sheen is connected to the resurgent Catholic sex abuse crisis.

"There has never been, nor is there now, any allegation against Sheen involving the abuse of a minor," the release said.

The process for beatifying Sheen was previously delayed due to a years-long legal dispute between the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Peoria over where Sheen's remains should be interred.

In the press release, Jenky expressed sadness at the most recent delay and concern about how it would affect those devoted to Sheen.

The release also noted that the bishop still believes Sheen will eventually become a saint, pointing to a number of miracles that can be attributed to Sheen.

"Bishop Jenky has every confidence that any additional examination will only further prove Fulton Sheen's worthiness of Beatification and Canonization," read the statement.

Sources

• RNS

In a September 3 communiqué, the Diocese of Peoria, where Archbishop Sheen was born, announced that the cause was suspended "for the foreseeable future" and would be assigned to a Vatican archive.

This is because the Archdiocese of New York had refused to release the archbishop's remains and to allow the body to be transferred to Peoria for the process of official inspection and to take relics.

Peoria diocese said in a communiqué that the Holy See expected the remains to be moved to Peoria in Illinois.

Archbishop Sheen's last will and testament expressed a desire for burial in New York.

He accepted Cardinal Terence Cooke's invitation for interment in the crypt beneath the main altar of St Patrick's Cathedral.

Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, the President of the Archbishop Fulton J Sheen Foundation, who had taken charge of the cause, was said to be "heartbroken" at the refusal.

The Peoria communiqué stated Bishop Jenky was assured on several occasions by the Archdiocese of New York that the transfer of the body would take place at the appropriate time.

"New York's change of mind took place as the work on behalf of the cause had reached a significant stage," the communiqué added.

New York's undertaking to help move the body at an appropriate time was given by Cardinal Edward Egan twice, a Peoria spokesperson said in an update.

The Congregation for Saint's Causes advised in 2005 that moving the body should wait for an appropriate time, as the diocesan inquiry had not started.

But Peoria believes that with this inquiry now complete, now is the right time.

A date for beatification could have been as early as next year, the Peoria statement added, as the process only awaited a vote of cardinals and the approval of the Holy Father.

New York archdiocese responded that Cardinal Timothy Dolan "did express a hesitance in exhuming the body" without a directive from the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes and the approval of Archbishop Sheen's family.

The statement added that Archbishop Sheen's "closest surviving family members" asked that the archbishop's interment wishes be respected.

The statement noted that Cardinal Dolan "does object to the dismemberment of the archbishop's body" [for relics], but, were it to be exhumed, relics that might have been buried with Archbishop Sheen might be able to be taken.

If Peoria's decision is final, New York suggested it could take over the cause.

Peoria had previously suspended the cause process, for similar reasons, in 2010.

Sources

• The Tablet
• Catholic Review
• National Catholic Register
• Catholic Post (Peoria statement)
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: Irish Catholic

A theological commission advising the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has recognised the miraculous recovery of a stillborn baby.

The child's mother and father had prayed to Archbishop Sheen to heal their son, James Engstrom, after he was born in 2010.

Although the baby showed no pulse for an hour after his birth, his heart started beating again and he escaped serious medical problems.

The congregation's cardinals and bishops will now review the case.

If they and Pope Francis approve, Archbishop Sheen could then be beatified.

Archbishop Sheen reached millions of television viewers in the United States with his shows in the 1950s and 1960s.

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Among the others honoured in decrees announced the same day were the first prelate of Opus Dei, the Canadian and Irish-American founders of two orders of religious women, a priest murdered by the Sicilian Mafia, and 154 martyrs killed during the Spanish Civil War.

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