Doctors approve Newman miracle
By Peter Jennings and Mark Greaves
24 April 2008

Cardinal John Henry Newman, left, and Deacon Jack Sullivan

The Cause of Cardinal John Henry Newman moved a significant step forward today after doctors in Rome concluded that an American man was miraculously cured of a spinal disorder after praying for his intercession.

The case will now be considered by a committee of theologians. If it receives their approval it will be passed to Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, whose job it is to advise Benedict XVI.

The news makes it clear that, contrary to some reports, Cardinal Newman's beatification has not yet been approved either by Benedict XVI or by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Peter Jennings, press secretary to the Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory for the Cause of the Beatification and Canonisation of the Venerable John Henry Newman, said: "With the permission of the Roman postulator of the Newman Cause, Dr Andrea Ambrosi, I am able to announce that today, Thursday April 24, a meeting of the Consulta Medica [medical committee] took place at the Congregation of Saints in Rome.

"The case of Deacon Jack Sullivan, from Marshfield near Boston, Massachusetts, was discussed and voted on by the Consulta Medica. The opinion of the doctors is positive.

"We now await the meeting of the committee of theological consultors on a date to be set by the Congregation of Saints. Before this, the Roman postulator must draw up the informatio report that will assist these theological consultors in their deliberations.

"If the vote of the theological consultors is favourable then the matter goes to the members of the Congregation of Saints, the cardinals and bishops, whose role it is to advise Pope Benedict XVI, who is taking a personal interest in the Newman Cause."

Jack Sullivan, a 69-year old permanent deacon, was suffering from an extremely serious spinal disorder when he first prayed through the intercession of Cardinal Newman.

Deacon Sullivan was healed of his spinal disorder on August 15, 2001, the Feast of the Assumption. He and his wife Carol have three grown up children.

Fr Paul Chavasse, provost of the Birmingham Oratory and postulator of the Newman Cause said: "We now hope and pray for a positive outcome for the remaining steps of the process to beatify our cardinal."

Fr Chavasse added: "The Fathers, at Newman's Oratory here in Edgbaston, would encourage people throughout the world to redouble their prayers for the Beatification of Cardinal Newman."

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham said: "The Church goes to great lengths before arriving at a public declaration of a person's holiness of life. The process is going forward steadily in the case of Cardinal Newman. We await its next step in prayerful anticipation."

Cardinal Newman was declared Venerable by John Paul II in 1991. A miracle attributed to his intercession must be approved by the Vatican before he can be beatified. A second miracle must be approved before canonisation. The Vatican is expected to consider the case of a 17-year-old in New Hampshire, America, who recovered from severe head injuries after praying to Cardinal Newman.