JPII Cause Moves Forward

Posted by Edward Pentin

Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:11 AM

(CNS)

The latest on John Paul II’s beatification process:

According to Andrea Tornielli, Vatican correspondent for Il Giornale, a meeting of theologian consultors was held yesterday morning at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. It was the second such meeting to examine the “positio ” — documents on the testimony of the cause.

The first meeting on May 13, which we reported on here, came across obstacles, not because the personal holiness of John Paul II was in doubt, but mainly because of a lack of documentation.

Tornielli says that the postulator of the cause, Msgr. Slawomir Oder, has since replied in writing to the objections. Yesterday, at the second and final meeting of the theologians, the majority of those present voted to pass the process on to the next stage. Two of them held back their initial assessment because they believe that “the framework and documentary evidence must be integrated,” reports Tornielli.

Now the “positio ” goes to the cardinals and bishops of the congregation’s members, who before the end of the year will decide on the heroic virtues of John Paul. Then it will be up to Pope Benedict XVI to decide whether to promulgate a decree, declaring him Venerable, the penultimate stage to beatification.

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