Since we gained a new Pope on Wednesday, I thought the League of Themselves
showcase should feature the greatest Catholic cleric in Toobworld.....
BISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN
From Wikipedia:
Fulton John Sheen (born Peter John Sheen, May 8, 1895 – December 9, 1979)
was an American archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church known for his preaching
and especially his work on television and radio. His cause for canonization for
sainthood was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI
officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues" - a major step towards
beatification - so he is now referred to as "Venerable".
Ordained a
priest of the Diocese of Peoria in 1919, Sheen quickly became a renowned
theologian, earning the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in
1923. He went on to teach theology and philosophy as well as acting as a parish
priest before being appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in
1951. He held this position until 1966 when he was made the Bishop of Rochester
from October 21, 1966 to October 6, 1969, when he resigned and was made the
Archbishop of the Titular See of Newport, Wales.
For 20 years he hosted
the night-time radio program "The Catholic Hour" (1930–1950) before moving to
television and presenting 'Life Is Worth Living' (1951–1957). Sheen's final
presenting role was on the syndicated 'The Fulton Sheen Program' (1961–1968)
with a format very similar to that of the earlier 'Life is Worth Living' show.
For this work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television
Personality, the only personality appearing on the DuMont Network ever to win a
major Emmy award.
Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the
EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks. Due
to his contribution to televised preaching Sheen is often referred to as one of
the first televangelists.
In 1951 he began a weekly television program on the DuMont Television Network titled 'Life Is Worth Living'. Filmed at the Adelphi Theatre in New York City, the program consisted of the unpaid Sheen simply speaking in front of a live audience without a script or cue cards, occasionally using a chalkboard.
The show, scheduled in a graveyard slot on Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m., was not expected to challenge the ratings giants Milton Berle and Frank Sinatra, but did surprisingly well. Berle joked, "He uses old material, too", and observed that "[i]f I'm going to be eased off the top by anyone, it's better that I lose to the One for whom Bishop Sheen is speaking." Sheen responded in jest that people should start calling him "Uncle Fultie".
In 1951 he began a weekly television program on the DuMont Television Network titled 'Life Is Worth Living'. Filmed at the Adelphi Theatre in New York City, the program consisted of the unpaid Sheen simply speaking in front of a live audience without a script or cue cards, occasionally using a chalkboard.
The show, scheduled in a graveyard slot on Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m., was not expected to challenge the ratings giants Milton Berle and Frank Sinatra, but did surprisingly well. Berle joked, "He uses old material, too", and observed that "[i]f I'm going to be eased off the top by anyone, it's better that I lose to the One for whom Bishop Sheen is speaking." Sheen responded in jest that people should start calling him "Uncle Fultie".
One of his best-remembered presentations came in February 1953, when he forcefully denounced the Soviet regime of Joseph Stalin. Sheen gave a dramatic reading of the burial scene from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, substituting the names of Caesar, Cassius, Mark Antony, and Brutus with those of prominent Soviet leaders Stalin, Lavrenty Beria, Georgy Malenkov, and Andrey Vyshinsky. He concluded by saying, "Stalin must one day meet his judgment." The dictator suffered a stroke a few days later and died within a week.
AS SEEN ON:
'Life Is Worth Living'
'The Fulton Sheen Program'
BCnU, Amen!
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