canonization
New Palestinian saints highlight region’s beleaguered Christians
By Rosie Scammell — May 11, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The two nuns offer a glimmer of hope for Middle Eastern Christians, beset by violence and recent targeting by militants from the Islamic State group.
Pope Francis declares Oscar Romero a martyr, moves slain archbishop toward sainthood
By David Gibson — February 3, 2015
(RNS) Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has often said he thought the slain archbishop was a martyr worthy of consideration for sainthood.
Some see Junipero Serra, Pope Francis’ next American saint, as less than holy
By David Gibson — February 2, 2015
(RNS) Some of Junipero Serra’s sharpest critics say he was part of an imperial conquest that beat and enslaved Native Americans, raped their women, and destroyed their culture.
Oscar Romero declared a martyr as Vatican inches him toward sainthood
By Josephine McKenna — January 9, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Romero's sainthood cause languished amid lingering Vatican suspicion of Liberation Theology, which flourished under Romero and was suppressed by both Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Why Protestants need some saints of our own
By Jonathan Merritt — November 4, 2014
Saint are reminders that if you follow Jesus, in the words of Flannery O’Connor, “you will know the truth and the truth will make you strange.” We Protestants could use a few more of those if you ask me.
New Jersey nun on the path to sainthood
By David Gibson — September 15, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) While a dozen Catholic saints are classified as Americans, New Jersey native Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich would be only the second saint born in the United States.
Bones of contention: Catholic dioceses fight over Archbishop Sheen’s body
By David Gibson — September 4, 2014
(RNS) In an unusual public clash, Bishop Jenky of Peoria says Cardinal Dolan of New York reneged on a deal to send Sheen's body back to Illinois so he could be beatified.
Is James Foley a martyr? A brutal death sparks a faith-based debate
By David Gibson — August 26, 2014
(RNS) James Foley’s murder by terrorists of the Islamic State has prompted many Christians, especially Foley’s fellow Catholics, to argue that he should be considered a martyr, maybe even a saint.
Roberto Clemente, the next saint?
By Heather Adams — June 17, 2014
(RNS) Baseball great Roberto Clemente died in 1972 on his way to deliver relief supplies to victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua. Now, one fan is swinging for the fences to try to make Clemente a saint.
Popes John XXIII, John Paul II elevated to sainthood
By Josephine McKenna — April 27, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints, and we enrole them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church,” Francis declared to the crowd in Latin during the two-hour ceremony.
Report: Pope Paul VI to be beatified after California ‘miracle’
By Josephine McKenna — April 25, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) According to the weekly magazine of the Pauline Fathers, a miracle involving the birth of a baby in California in the 1990s has been attributed to the late Italian pope; the identity of the family and its location has not been revealed.
Meet the women behind the miracles credited to John Paul II and John XXIII
By Josephine McKenna — April 24, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Costa Rican mother of four says she was healed of an inoperable brain aneurysm after praying to Pope John Paul II and receiving a message of "don't be afraid."
COMMENTARY: John XXIII and John Paul II: Two Catholic saints for the Jews
By Noam E. Marans — April 24, 2014
(RNS) We must never forget the centuries of Christian enmity that preceded the Holocaust, but we must also be ready to praise those like John XXIII and John Paul II who modeled a new narrative of Christian-Jewish relations.
FACT BOX: Everything you need to know about popes and saints
By David Gibson — April 23, 2014
(RNS) How many popes have been made saints? What's the "devil's advocate"? Find out in this drive-by tour of the process of making saints.
ANALYSIS: Does being pope give you an inside track to sainthood?
By David Gibson — April 23, 2014
(RNS) The shift to make popes into saints could backfire if the public assumes that every pontificate comes with an automatic -- or at least expected -- halo.
