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August 29, 2008 4:12:19 CDT

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'Saint Factory' Slows Down Production

Posted Feb 19, 08 11:57 AM CST in Arts & Living,  World 

(Newser) – The Vatican is moving to slow traffic on the road to sainthood, the BBC reports. Critics accused the Vatican of becoming a "saint factory" under the late Pope John Paul II, who created more saints than all his predecessors combined. The new, more rigorous guidelines under Benedict XVI require candidates to have "a true reputation for holiness."

A document made public yesterday asks bishops to use ''greater sobriety and rigour'' in handling requests. An official concedes that some past candidates for sainthood weren't investigated properly, and applications from countries that lacked a saint or were about to be visited by the pope were occasionally fast-tracked. But even Benedict has put a few a candidates in the passing lane—including his predecessor.

Sources BBC, Times (UK)

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Pope Benedict XVI listens to Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins during a solemn ceremony in which the pontiff named four new saints from France, Malta, the Netherlands and Poland in St. Peter's...   (Associated Press)
Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, incenses the altar during a beatification ceremony he celebrated in St. Peter's square at the...   (Associated Press)
View of St.Peter's Basilica during a mass beatification celebrated by Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, at the Vatican, Sunday,...   (Associated Press)
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing as he enters the Pope Paul VI at the Vatican hall for his weekly general audience, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)   (Associated Press)
Pope Benedict XVI waves the faithful at the end of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's square at the Vatican Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)   (Associated Press)
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Pope Benedict XVI  • Vatican  • Pope John Paul II  • sainthood  • beatification


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