Debating Sainthood: Boston Investigates

If the adage no news is good news holds true; Bostonist is always a little uneasy when we read a lead in to a report like this: "The Archdiocese of Boston has convened a secret tribunal..." This story, however, has a miraculous twist. Cardinal John Henry Newman has been put forth to the Vatican to cannomize the late Cardinal on the process of becoming a saint. According to Catholic law, canonization of an individual into sainthood goes through a number of stages. Pope John Paul II (or JP Deuce as Bostonist has a habit of calling him) had found Cardinal Newman to be venerable during his term as Pope. There had been no evidence of a miraculous event made apparent to the Pope, but recently a claim has been made by a Boston man. Praying to Cardinal Newman allowed the Boston Deacon to experience a full recovery, which could be deemed by the special, secret tribunal in set up by the Boston Archdiocese as a miracle.

Last week the sainthood meme from the BBC focused news in Birmingham, England, where Cardinal Newman biggest fan lives, worked its way from the UK news service last week into continued coverage by the Boston Globe staff, when it was picked up by the Associated Press. The world, and Newman faithful, will have to wait until February when the Boston Archdiocese delivers the verdict.