SAINTHOOD DELAYED FOR ANTI-SEMITE

Beatification of priest delayed
The beatification of a French priest has been postponed due to concerns over his anti-Semitic writings. The beatification of Leon Dehon was signed off on by the late Pope John Paul II, but his successor, Benedict XVI, is having Dehon’s file re-examined.

Dehon, who died in 1925, was the founder of the order of priests of Sacre Cœur. Among Dehon’s anti-Semitic statements: Jews should wear a “special garment” identifying them as Jews and be “consigned to the ghettos.” According to Dehon, “anti-Semitism is a sign of hope.” French historian Jean-Dominique Durand alerted the French episcopate to the writings in February.

The interruption of a beatification is extremely rare; halting the process for Duhon at this stage might be unique in Catholic history, because once a candidate’s “miracles” have been recognized, only the death of a Pope can stop the process.