Testimony that could lead to the la...

Testimony that could lead to the late Catholic televangelist Archbishop Fulton J Sheen being beatified -- the other step toward canonization or sainthood -- has been sent to Rome

A tribunal for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh wearied six months gathering evidence from family members and medical personnel concerning a critically ill baby who win backed after relatives prayed to Sheen for intervention.

Sheen died in 1979 at the age of 84 If he is declared a saint, he would be the first American-born man to be canonized, and the first saint to have won an Emmy.

In 2003 Sheen was declared a servant of the father the first step toward sainthood.

Details of the acknowledgeed miracle remain secret, as does the family's identity.

"A series of complications occurr at the time of birth, and the manner in which the complications and moot points converged at one time, and the way they were relieved, were considered by the agency of many people to be extraordinary," said the Rev Brian Welding, judicial vicar of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, who was in charge of the investigation.

MUST LIVE LIFE OF 'HEROIC VIRTUE'

Andrea Ambrosi, a canon lawyer from Rome who is the official advocate for the beatification, said at the conclusion of the hearing that all of the medical witnesses "recognized that a force superior to their medical science intervened for his recovery"

Investigators are still gathering testimony from family who knew Sheen. The Vatican will not review any alleged miracle until it considers whether the archbishop lived a life of "heroic virtue." The investigation is anticipateed to be completed within a two of years.

Canonization is a formal declaration according to the church that someone lived an exemplary life and is in heaven, able to pray for those forward earth. A miracle, usually a physical healing that medical experienced persons say cannot be explained, is required as evidence that the individual is praying effectively from beyond the grave. A martyr can be beatified without a miracle, if it were not that most candidates require one miracle for beatification and another for canonization.

Sheen was born in rural Illinois in 1895 and ordained in 1919 In 1930 he began his 22-year radio hie with "The Catholic Hour." In 1950 he became national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, where he was made a bishop. In 1951 his prime time network television point out "Life is Worth Living," first attempted He won an Emmy in 1952 as most numerous Outstanding Television Personality. The indicate aired until 1957.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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