To the editor:
I was very pleased to read news reports about the Beatification of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on Sept. 24, 2026. This was the first step (of two steps) required for the path forward to a full Sainthood designation by the Roman Catholic Church.
Archbishop Sheen was born in the little village of El Paso, Illinois, in May 1895. He later studied and became a priest in Peoria, Illinois. From 1926 until 1950, he was a noted priest who broadcast messages on national radio. In 1951, he was consecrated a Bishop, primarily based in New York City. In 1966, Sheen became Bishop of Rochester, New York, and also a titular Archbishop.
In 1951, Bishop Sheen launched his wildly successful TV-show “Life Is Worth Living.” It was a ratings success, even beating-out competitors such as comedian Milton Berle.
Bishop Sheen nearly always began his programs with the salutation: “Friends ...” That soothed his audience and proved he was relatable to Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and everyone. He would often read postal letters from children. And, usually, he kicked off the beginning of each telecast with a clean joke.
His TV show still has a renewed life of its own, since the EWTN-Catholic Television Network broadcasts re-runs of Bishop Sheen’s “Life Is Worth Living” program, usually every Monday evening at 5:30-6 p.m. Back when I was a kid, I was usually too preoccupied with riding my bike to watch it when it first came out. But, the last few years, I learn a lot more from the show as an adult. Archbishop Sheen’s words from 60 or 75 years ago seem just as pinpoint-accurate and appropriate as they were then.
It is simply incredible that Bishop Sheen preached a commentary on the former Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin (comparing his fate to the burial scene in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, substituting the Soviet leader’s name therein; with the words: “Stalin must one day meet his judgment”) and then Stalin died just a few days later in 1953 of a stroke.
Archbishop Sheen was firmly anti-Communist. His thoughts on the degradation of modern morals, serial deviancy, lesser respect for pregnancies, excessive greed by ruthless people who worship the Almighty Dollar, and diminished consciences by young people ring just as true as if Archbishop Fulton Sheen had spoken those same words today. He wasn’t clairvoyant, but he certainly had qualities like a prophet.
Years ago, Bishop Sheen made a pilgrimage to Fatima, to pray with other pilgrims. He was later deeply impressed by the 1952 religious drama motion picture “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima,” which depicted the famous apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal in the year 1917. He liked it so much that he asked studio-executive Jack Warner for permission to show a clip of it on Sheen’s television program. Permission was granted, and on-screen, Bishop Sheen said he “owed a debt of gratitude to Mr. Jack Warner.”
Bishop Sheen also paid an on-screen compliment to the then deceased former U.S. President Warren G. Harding, by using an alleged quote by Harding that the perfect age of a woman is: “The age of my wife.” That was only thin flattery by Harding, yet, it shows that Bishop Sheen respected Protestants such as President Harding and Jews such as Jack Warner.
Being “Beatified” is the first step toward Sainthood. The title “Blessed” is conferred. Under canon law, it’ll require another miracle attributable to Sheen for Vatican officials to recommend full Sainthood.
I believe Fulton Sheen deserves Sainthood more than most existing Saints.
James A. Marples
Ebson, Kansas
