He could be the first blessed figure to win an Emmy Award, the most prestigious television award. Among the Congregation’s decrees for the causes of saints approved by the Pope a few days ago, is the decree of the heroic values of Bishop Fulton Sheen, Catholic pioneer of today’s huge host of television preachers.
Back in the 50’s this prelate was so successful on the small screen that he appeared in a programme on prime-time television in the U.S. openly competing against stars such as Frank Sinatra and Milton Berne.
Sheen was born in El Paso in 1895; a priest since 1919, he was sent to study Philosophy at Leuven University. A great apologist, he was given his own radio show in 1930 which he carried on for twenty years, with audience numbers going up week by week.
When he became Auxiliary Bishop of New York in 1951, television network DuMont offered him a show that was to go on air every Tuesday at eight in the evening. Life is Worth Living proved so successful that he received an Emmy Award for the show in 1952.
When he collected it, Bishop Sheen expressed his gratitude to the authors: “Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.”
The programme was broadcast until 1957, reaching audiences of thirty million people.
In 1966 he was nominated Bishop of Rochester in the State of New York. He died in 1979 just a few months after John Paul II praised him for his commitment to the announcement of the Gospel.
The recognition of his heroic virtues means Fulton Sheen is just “Venerable” for now, but this is the first step towards sainthood.
The Archdiocese of New York is currently examining a case of extraordinary healing which took place thanks to his intercession.
This could soon lead to his beatification.