Vatican responds to claims that Cardinal Newman was a homosexual

Basically-accurately reported by the UK Mail:

The Vatican has hit back at claims that the man likely to become Britain’ s next saint was a closet homosexual.

The Holy See is furious at allegations made by gay activists in the UK that Cardinal John Henry Newman was a celibate gay man.

The claims were made after the Government granted a licence for the cardinal to be exhumed from a grave he shares with fellow priest Father Ambrose St John in a small cemetery in Rednal, Worcestershire.

... [Pope Benedict] personally commissioned the Rev Dr Ian Ker, a theologian at Oxford University and the world’s leading Newman scholar, to refute the allegations in an article for the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

Father Ker, the author of the definitive biography of Newman, said there was no evidence to suggest that the cardinal was gay other than the deep grief at the death of his closest friend and the request to be buried in the same grave as him.

More from CNA.

Vatican: "Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux to be beatified in France"

Exciting news:

Today Pope Benedict XVI approved the rite of beatification for the parents of St. Theresa of Lisieux, Louis Martin and Marie Zelie Guerin. They will be beatified on October 19 in Lisieux, France.

According to the Office of Liturgical Celebrations, the beatification ceremony of the parents of St. Therese, Doctor of the Church and Patron of Missions, will take place in the Basilica of St. Therese in Lisieux (CNA)

Flash: John Henry Cardinal Newman to be beatified this year!

Deo Gratias!

The Vatican has approved the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman [wikipedia page], the English convert and theologian who has had immense influence upon English-speaking Catholicism, the Birmingham Mail reports.

The Catholic Church has accepted as miraculous the cure of an American deacon’s crippling spinal disorder. The deacon, Jack Sullivan of Marshfield, Massachusetts, prayed for John Henry Newman’s intercession.

At his beatification ceremony later this year, John Henry Newman will receive the title “Blessed.” He will need one more recognized miracle to be canonized.

The case of a 17-year-old New Hampshire boy who survived serious head injuries from a car crash is being investigated as a possible second miracle. (CNA)

Intentional Disciples anticipated this story, and has some helpful resources.

Plenty of folks are going to be tickled pink about this news. Me, for one.

Ph/t: Gashwin Gomes.