Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 11:00:41 AM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

'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)

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Alleged Abuse Victims Can Sue the Vatican

    Nov 25, 08 5:32 PM CST
    Alleged Abuse Victims Can Sue the Vatican Alleged victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests can move ahead with a lawsuit against the Vatican, the Wall Street Journal reports. A federal appeals court in Cincinnati ruled that the Vatican can be held liable for negligence in the thousands of such cases reported in the US. A Vatican spokesman said it will probably not appeal to the Supreme Court.

    More »

  • Catholics, Muslims Seek Common Ground at Vatican

    Nov 4, 08 2:04 PM CST
    Catholics, Muslims Seek Common Ground at Vatican Clerics of the world’s two largest faiths are meeting at the Vatican this week to improve relations between the long-divided communities. Muslim clerics invited Christians to dialogue after comments Pope Benedict made in 2006 that implied Islam was violent and irrational. The mostly male Vatican members and imams will have an audience with the pope Thursday as the meeting culminates, Reuters reports. More »

  • Vatican Will Root Out Gay Priests With Sex Tests

    Oct 31, 08 1:23 AM CDT
    Vatican Will Root Out Gay Priests With Sex Tests The Catholic Church plans to screen gay men out of the priesthood with psychological tests aimed to detect "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" in seminary candidates, the Scotsman reports. Under the new guidelines, issued yesterday by the Vatican, potential priests will also be screened for "grave immaturity" and “imbalances” that imply a candidate would have a hard time coping with celibacy.
    More »

  • 'Hitler's Pope' Closer to Sainthood

    Oct 10, 08 1:50 AM CDT
    'Hitler's Pope' Closer to Sainthood The most controversial pope of modern times may soon be a step closer to sainthood, reports Der Spiegel. Pius XII—known by many as "Hitler's Pope" because of his lack of action during the Holocaust or criticism of the Nazis—is about to be beatified, despite decades of dispute. Beatification is the final step before sainthood is declared. Pope Benedict XVI claims Pius worked "secretly and silently" to save Jews.
    More »

  • Vatican Blasts Attacks on Christians

    Aug 29, 08 5:09 PM CDT
    Vatican Blasts Attacks on Christians The Vatican warned against the spread of "Christianophobia" today following attacks in India that left 13 Christians dead, Reuters reports. Thousands fled their homes this week as mobs rioted in retaliation for the murder of a Hindu leader. The Pope condemned the violence, and Italy's foreign ministry will demand India take "incisive action" to stop the killing. More »

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)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 1)

Tags

Pope Benedict XVI • Vatican • Pope John Paul II • sainthood • beatification


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »