Suitable cases for canonisation

Madam, - Brendan Butler (March 6th) seems to imply that the Vatican is not pursuing the canonisation of the outspoken Archbishop…

Madam, - Brendan Butler (March 6th) seems to imply that the Vatican is not pursuing the canonisation of the outspoken Archbishop Oscar Romero with the same vigour it applied to the cause of Blessed Charles of Mount Argus.

In fact, the cause for the canonisation of Archbishop Romero was started in 1990, on the 10th anniversary of his assassination, and has since overcome several hurdles, one of which was a theological audit by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which at the time was headed by the then Cardinal Ratzinger.

The canonisation of saints is generally not a rapid process. It has been 100 years since the death of Blessed Charles. Matt Talbot has been dead since 1925, and Cardinal Newman has been dead for as long as Blessed Charles. Neither of these could be viewed as "boat-rockers", but neither has yet been canonised. - Yours, etc,

LEO TALBOT, Moy Glas Way, Lucan, Co Dublin.

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Madam, - Brendan Butler has touched on an important topic. Not just Christians but people of other faiths and of none were upset when the list of great Christians of the 20th century published by the Vatican to mark the millennium did not include Archbishop Oscar Romero. The resultant outcry resulted in the publication of a revised list which included the justly revered archbishop.

It reminded me of the late Pope John Paul's arrival in Nicaragua in 1983, when he refused to allow Ernesto Cardenal to kiss his ring, but instead admonished him as he knelt before the Pope on the tarmac. Cardenal, a world-renowned poet and a one-time communist who had become a priest, was an uncompromising supporter of the poor. He also broke a rule when he entered the left-wing Sandanista government.

Nevertheless, I include not only Romero and Cardenal but our late Pope and Blessed Charles of Mount Argus in my personal list of great Christians. - Yours etc,

PATRICK TOBIN, Carlton Terrace, Bray, Co Wicklow.