Newman Cause moves forward

The Cause of the Beatification the Venerable John Henry Newman, took a step forward yesterday with the news that a meeting of the Consulta Medica was examining a possible miracle. Spokesman Peter Jennings said: "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 Information report that will assist these theological consultors in their deliberations," he said. "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 15 August 2001, the Feast of the Assumption. Jack Sullivan and his wife Carol have three grown up children. Father 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." Father 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." The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop 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."