Two archdiocese duke it out for the body of soon-to-be saint

The Archdioceses of New York and Peoria, Illinois have gone public with their war over the body of a famed Catholic televangelist, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who is currently on the path towards sainthood.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Sheen has been buried inside the crypt beneath the high alter of St. Patrick's Cathedral since his death back in 1979, but Peoria wants to bring the body to Illinois to collect relics.

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Cardinal Timothy Dolan is refusing to give up New York's claim on Sheen, and Peoria's Biship, Daniel Jenky, isn't pleased with this turn of events.

Jenky announced with "immense sadness" that Sheen's sainthood push had been halted "for the foreseeable future."

"Bishop Jenky was personally assured on several occasions by the Archdiocese of New York that the transfer of the body would take place at the appropriate time," the Diocese of Peoria said in a statement on September 3, lamenting "New York's change of mind."

"The Bishop is heartbroken not only for his flock in Peoria but also for the many supporters of the Sheen Cause from throughout the world who have so generously supported Peoria's efforts."

In response to the statement, the Archdiocese of New York pointed to Sheen's and his family's desire to keep the body in New York. Communications director Joseph Zwilling also said that the move has not yet been approved by the Holy See.

Both archdioceses do have a claim to the would-be saint.

Peoria is where Sheen was raised and ordained, but New York is where Sheen rose to the national spotlight in the 1950s with his syndicated television show, "Life is Worth Living," which drew up to 30 million viewers every week.

Sheen does already have an associated miracle; four years ago, an Illinois mom claimed that Sheen intervened from beyond the grave to save her baby boy, who was stillborn at birth. The Holy See recognized the miracle, but Vatican medical experts are still conducting an investigation into the incident.

The Archdiocese of New York said that it would be happy to take over Sheen's sainthood push if Peoria suspends it.

Although it is European custom for parts of a saint's body to be used as relics, Dolan has said he's firmly against dismembering Sheen's body. But Sheen's family is reportedly "at peace" with the idea of recently collecting relics from his coffin "without disturbing the body."

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