# Fulton Sheen Beatified: Anti-Communist Icon Praised as Political Model

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/fulton-sheen-beatified-anti-communist-icon-praised-as-political-model
- Published: 2026-09-25T07:10:41.529922+00:00
- Topics: catholic-church, religion, fulton-sheen, beatification, anti-communism

## What the left says
- Sheen's beatification is a significant moment in American Catholic religious history that stands on its own as a spiritual milestone, independent of any political framing.
- Reducing a religious figure's legacy to anti-communist political symbolism risks overshadowing his broader pastoral work, including his charity fundraising, media evangelism, and personal holiness.
- The investigation into whether Sheen had any complicity in clerical sex abuse, though it concluded he was innocent, is a reminder that the Church's abuse crisis remains a relevant lens through which to view any beatification.
- Coverage emphasizing Sheen as a 'political model' for today's conservatives reflects an effort by some commentators to enlist religious figures in contemporary partisan battles rather than simply honoring his faith legacy.

## What the right says
- Sheen's decades-long crusade against communism and materialism offers a timeless example of moral clarity that many see as urgently applicable to today's ideological struggles.
- His ability to reach tens of millions of Americans through mainstream television, beating entertainment giants like Milton Berle and Frank Sinatra in the ratings, demonstrates that unapologetic faith and traditional values can resonate broadly rather than being confined to the margins.
- The White House's official recognition of Sheen's beatification reflects an embrace of his legacy as a model of faith-driven public witness that helped mainstream Catholicism in American life and paved the way for figures like JFK.
- The documented miracle involving baby James Fulton Engstrom's unexplained recovery reinforces Sheen's sanctity and the credibility of his path toward full canonization.

## Common ground
- Fulton Sheen was beatified in a Mass in St. Louis, Missouri, attended by tens of thousands of Catholics, marking the last step before sainthood.
- Sheen pioneered religious broadcasting on radio and television, winning an Emmy for his show 'Life Is Worth Living' and reaching millions of Americans weekly.
- The Vatican's investigation into allegations tied to the clerical abuse crisis found Sheen innocent, clearing the way for his beatification.
- Sheen's approved miracle involved the unexplained survival of infant James Fulton Engstrom, whose family attended the beatification ceremony.

## Sources
- [PJ Media](https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/09/24/at-the-beatification-of-americas-own-fulton-sheen-n4957615) (Unknown)
- [PJ Media](https://pjmedia.com/gregbyrnes/2026/09/24/on-fulton-sheen-n4957605) (Unknown)
- [Blaze Media](https://www.theblaze.com/news/fulton-sheen-beatification-mass-catholic) (Right)
- [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2026/09/24/pinkerton-fulton-sheen-should-be-the-patron-saint-of-anti-communism/) (Right)
- [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/24/white-house-honors-archbishop-fulton-sheen-on-day-of-his-beatification/) (Right)
- [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/us/fulton-sheen-catholic-saint.html) (Lean Left)
- [The Daily Signal](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/09/24/catholic-tv-host-fulton-sheen/) (Right)

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