Archbishop Fulton Sheen drew tens of millions of Americans to their TV sets with little more than a chalkboard, a cape and a message about Christianity, morality and the threat of communism. More than seven decades later, conservative commentator Michael Knowles said that he believes the legendary Catholic broadcaster could deliver essentially the same message and immediately find himself branded a "far-right extremist." "I think he would be taking his first breath to utter the first syllable of the very first sentence just when someone called him a far-right extremist," Knowles told Fox News Digital. "He wouldn't need to change his message." BISHOP ROBERT BARRON: THE REAL REASON COMMUNISTS FEAR RELIGION AND WANT BELIEVERS SILENCED Sheen was formally beatified, or formally "blessed" by the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday in St.
Louis, marking a major step toward possible sainthood for one of the most recognizable religious figures of 20th century America. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump joined Catholics celebrating Sheen's life, with the White House calling him the first American-born bishop to be beatified by the Catholic Church. Long before podcasts and social media gave religious figures direct access to enormous audiences, Sheen became one of America's most successful religious broadcasters.
His radio program, "The Catholic Hour," reached more than 4 million people, according to Vatican News. He later made the leap to television, where "Life Is Worth Living" eventually captivated an estimated 30 million viewers. The format was strikingly simple.
AMERICA HAS FOUNDING FATHERS. A CATHOLIC SAINT WAS A FOUNDING MOTHER Wearing his clerical robes and standing before a chalkboard, Sheen spoke directly to viewers about faith, morality, suffering and the dignity of the human person, weaving theology with stories and humor. "He was the very first televangelist," said Knowles, who argued Sheen understood something about mass communication that remains true in the digital age.
"He went where the people were." Sheen's reach extended far beyond a conventional religious audience. The White House also noted that he competed with entertainment giants Milton Berle and Frank Sinatra in weekly ratings, appeared on the cover of Time magazine and won an Emmy for outstanding television personality. CHASTITY BEFORE MARRIAGE?
DATA SAYS COUPLES WHO SKIP BOTH MAY HAVE STRONGER UNIONS Among the millions of Americans who encountered Sheen through television was a boy who would eventually become the first American pope. Pope Leo XIV has recalled encountering Sheen's evangelization while growing up. Decades later, Leo approved Sheen's beatification in St.
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