The Vatican has once again approved the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the renowned U.S. radio and television evangelist whose journey toward sainthood was previously stalled by a prolonged legal dispute over his remains and later by questions regarding his handling of clergy sexual abuse cases during his time as bishop.
Following a thorough six-year investigation into those concerns, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has cleared the path forward. The Diocese of Peoria announced on February 9, 2026, that the beatification—originally planned for Peoria, Illinois—can now proceed as intended.
No specific date for the ceremony, which would declare Sheen "Blessed" and represent the final major step before potential canonization, has been set yet. Diocese officials are coordinating with the Vatican to finalize details.
The Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV. Sheen, a pioneering broadcaster who brought Catholic teachings to millions in the mid-20th century, was declared Venerable in 2012, and a miracle attributed to his intercession was approved in 2019.
Radio Career
- Sheen's media presence began in the late 1920s. His first notable broadcasting experience came in 1926 with a series of Lenten sermons on a New York radio station.
- In 1930, he started hosting the weekly Sunday-night program The Catholic Hour on NBC Radio. Initially invited as a short-term summer replacement, his engaging style and positive audience response led to a long-term role.
- He continued as the primary speaker (initially as Father Sheen, later Monsignor) for 20 years, from 1930 to 1950.The program aired nationally and drew an estimated audience of up to 4 million listeners weekly. It featured Sheen's eloquent talks on Catholic doctrine, philosophy, American values, global events, and the dangers of communism, presented in an accessible, non-confrontational way that made complex ideas relatable to a broad audience.
- This radio work established Sheen as a household name in religious broadcasting during the 1930s and 1940s.
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- Sheen transitioned to television in the early 1950s, becoming a trailblazer in religious TV programming and one of the first "televangelists."
- His most famous show, Life Is Worth Living, debuted on February 12, 1952, on the DuMont Television Network. It ran until 1955 on DuMont, then moved to ABC from 1955 to 1957. The half-hour program featured Sheen (by then an auxiliary bishop of New York) delivering solo lectures—often on theology, ethics, current events, and anti-communism—delivered directly to the camera with no notes, accompanied by a blackboard for illustrations.
- The show was remarkably successful, attracting up to 30 million viewers per week at its peak, even competing against popular entertainment programs like Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater. In 1953, Sheen won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, famously thanking his "writers": Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
- After the original series ended in 1957, Sheen continued similar work with follow-up programs:A syndicated series in 1958–1961.
- The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968), which closely resembled Life Is Worth Living in format and content (many episodes filmed in color).
Throughout his TV career, Sheen appeared in approximately 250 episodes across these series, making him a superstar in early television and a key figure in bringing Catholic perspectives to mainstream American audiences.