Cause of Saints to Issue New Instructions

(09 Jan 08 - RV ) The Congregation for the Cause of Saints is set to publish a document urging greater rigour and more restraint when it comes to opening new diocesan process for beatifications and canonisations.

The news was reported in Wednesdays’ edition of the Vatican daily “Osservatore Romano”, in an interview with Congregation prefect Cardinal José Saraiva Martins.

In the interview the cardinal states that “the 20 page document is destined for all resident bishops. It contains some instructions on procedures examining the admissibility of new cases and what needs tot o be concretely done to begin and follow through in the diocesan phase of investigations”.

The Cardinal adds that the document will be presented to the public at the Holy See Press Office,”because it merits ample consideration, but also because we aim to draw the attention of postulators to the argument”.

The Cardinal continues that the need for the document became evident “to respond to the new spirit of procedures of the rite introduced by Pope Benedict XVI”.

Cardinal Saraiva Martins categorically refuted that these instructions have been drawn up in response to accusations that the Church has been “manufacturing saints” given the large numbers of Servants of God beatified and Canonised in recent years.

He replies by recalling the words of John Paul II, that if there are so many saints it is a matter that is in God’s hands because it is He who “arouses Holiness in the hearts of men” adding that “the Church merely takes note”.

The Cardinal Prefect also tackled the issue of the costs of causes as well as accusations that certain candidates are “fast-tracked” to sainthood because of their fame.

Regarding costs, Cardinal Martins underlined that the commissions called to verify causes, such as doctors, scientists and theologians, have costs that must be met. But that the total expenditure of individual causes varies according to the complexity of the case, and that money has nothing whatsoever to do with sainthood.

Regarding the speeding up of certain causes the Cardinal states that “there are only two reasons why the Congregation would consider changing the rigid chronological order of processes; the first is when the Pope makes papal journeys to countries which have causes close to approval for canonisation, in order to give the Pope the possibility of elevating a brother or sister of the people he has travelled to”.

The Cardinal concludes “the second reason is also pastoral, and regards processes referring to exemplary figures from countries who have yet to witness a child of their nation be beatified or canonised”.