DID IT TAKE A POPE FROM ILLINOIS TO GET ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN, RIP, OUT OF LIMBO?

Credible reports indicate that the Vatican will soon announce the date of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s beatification. Does this indicate that through the intercession and intervention of the Illinois’ pope, Pope Leo XVI of Chicago, Illinois, that His Illinois Holiness got Archbishop Fulton Sheen out of limbo? 

Common sense coherence seems to say so!

A little bit of historical background how Archbishop Fulton Sheen got cast into limbo as described by AI:

The feud between New York and Illinois over Archbishop Fulton Sheen's body was a legal and ecclesiastical battle delaying his sainthood cause, with Illinois' Peoria Diocese wanting his remains for burial in his home state (where he was ordained), while the Archdiocese of New York, where he lived and died, initially resisted, citing his wishes to be buried in Manhattan and disputes over alleged promises by past New York archbishops. The fight centered on Sheen's desire for a full burial in Peoria for beatification versus his stated wish to remain in New York, ultimately resolved in 2019 when New York's courts sided with Peoria, allowing the transfer after years of appeals and legal challenges from New York. 

Key Players & Their Stances:

• Peoria Diocese (Illinois): Advocated for Sheen's body to be moved to Peoria for his beatification, claiming a promise from New York's former Archbishop Egan and citing his Illinois origins.
• Archdiocese of New York: Initially resisted, arguing Sheen's will stated he wanted to be buried in New York and that no formal agreement to transfer his body existed.
• Sheen's Family (specifically his niece): Supported the move to Peoria, aligning with the Illinois diocese's efforts for his sainthood. 

Timeline & Key Events:

1. 2002: Peoria opens Sheen's cause for sainthood; claims agreement for body transfer.
2. 2014: Bishop Jenky (Peoria) suspends cause, citing NY's refusal to return body; Cardinal Dolan (NY) disputes promise.
3. 2016: Family sues to move body; NY courts involved.
4. 2019: NY courts rule for Peoria, denying further appeal; NY concedes, allowing transfer. 

Why the Fight?

• Canonization Requirements: For beatification and sainthood, the blessed person's relics (often a body part or the entire body) are typically needed in the diocese where the cause is being promoted.
• Conflicting Wishes: Sheen's expressed desire to be buried in New York conflicted with the canonical requirements for his Illinois-based sainthood cause.
• "Tourist Attraction": Battles over saints' bodies are historically common, as they draw pilgrims and business. 

Resolution:
After extensive legal battles, the New York Archdiocese dropped its opposition in 2019, allowing for the respectful transfer of Archbishop Sheen's remains to St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria, where he was later interred, paving the way for his beatification