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Fulton J. Sheen

Fulton John Sheen (born Peter John Sheen, May 8, 1895 – December 9, 1979) was an American bishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in 1919, Sheen quickly became a renowned theologian, earning the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923. He went on to teach theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America and acted as a parish priest before he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in 1951. He held this position until 1966 when he was made the Bishop of Rochester. He resigned in 1969 as his 75th birthday approached, and was made archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales.

For 20 years as "Father Sheen", later monsignor, he hosted the night-time radio program The Catholic Hour on NBC (1930–1950) before he moved to television and presented Life Is Worth Living (1952–1957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968) with a format that was very similar to that of the earlier Life is Worth Living show. For that work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks. His contribution to televised preaching has resulted in Sheen often being referred to as one of the first televangelists.

The cause for his canonization was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues," a major step towards beatification, and he is now referred to as venerable. On July 5, 2019, Pope Francis approved a reputed miracle that occurred through the intercession of Sheen, clearing the way for his beatification. Sheen was scheduled to be beatified in Peoria on December 21, 2019, but his beatification was postponed after the current Bishop of Rochester expressed concern that Sheen's handling of a 1963 sexual misconduct case against a priest might be cited unfavorably in a forthcoming report from the New York Attorney General. The Diocese of Peoria countered that Sheen's handling of the case had already been "thoroughly examined" and "exonerated" and that Sheen had "never put children in harm's way".

Birth and Death Data: Born May 8, 1895 (El Paso), Died December 9, 1979 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor MS-75761 16-in. 4/9/1933 The Catholic hour Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor MS-75762 16-in. 4/9/1933 The Catholic hour Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor MS-75763 16-in. 4/9/1933 The Catholic hour Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor MS-75764 16-in. 4/9/1933 The Catholic hour Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75765 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75766 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75767 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75768 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75769 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75780 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75781 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75782 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75783 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75784 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Victor CS-75785 12-in. 4/9/1933 The seven last words Fulton J. Sheen Radio broadcast : Religious speaker  
Decca 86049 3/18/1954 Time for reflection: Blessed mother Fulton J. Sheen speaker  
Decca 86050 3/18/1954 Time for reflection: Divine sense of humor Fulton J. Sheen speaker  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Sheen, Fulton J.," accessed November 4, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102450.

Sheen, Fulton J.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 4, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102450.

"Sheen, Fulton J.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102450

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