The Congregation for the Causes of Saints have approved a miracle attributed to Cardinal John Henry Newman, the last step before Pope Benedict promulgates the British cardinal's beatification.
The congregation recognised the cure of a spinal disorder suffered by Jack Sullivan, a deacon from the Archdiocese of Boston in the US. Sullivan, 70, said his recovery from the serious ailment is a result of intense intercession to Cardinal Newman.
The congregation appointed five doctors to a medical commission on April 24, 2008, who found that the cure could not be explained medically.
The Positio was given to the seven members of the Board of Theologians appointed by the Congregation in late July 2008 just before the long Rome summer holiday. At its meeting on September 20, 2008, the theologians voted four in favour with three reserving their judgment. A two-thirds majority, a minimum of five votes in favour was required before the case could be referred to the cardinals of the Congregation for a final vote.
The theologians requested further information and clarification from Deacon Sullivan and the Diocesan Commission set up in the Archdiocese of Boston to gather the evidence of the alleged miraculous cure. This was provided and the theologians met again just before Christmas, on December 20 2008. Again the vote was the same.
At the request of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints some of the material was strengthen and re-presented to the theologians. On March 28, 2009, the decision of the theologians was unanimous in favour of the miracle necessary to beatify Cardinal Newman.
The Positio was then completed before being given to the cardinals of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints. It is the cardinals who recommend to the Holy Father that a Servant of God is worthy to be beatified. It is the Pope alone who authorises the promulgation of the degree.
SOURCE
Cardinals approve miracle for Newman beatification (Times Online)
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