Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Archbishop Fulton John Sheen (May 8, 1895 - December 9, 1979) became television's first preacher of note on the airways in the late 1940s on the DuMont Television Network. DuMont was searching for programming ideas and put on a religious show with a Protestant minister, a Jewish rabbi and a Catholic priest. The priest became an overnight hit and DuMont's only Emmy Award winner in its brief broadcasting life. The show was called Life is Worth Living and was highly regarded by the public. DuMont put the show up against Milton Berle and apparently drew better ratings than the comedian even among Jewish viewers. Prior to appearing on Life is Worth Living, Sheen appeared on the radio program Catholic Hour from 1930 to 1952.

Though he was known as Fulton (his mother's maiden name), he was baptized Peter John Sheen. He was educated at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC and returned there to teach philosophy after his ordination. He later became national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He was Auxiliary Bishop of New York from 1951 to 1965 and Bishop of Rochester from 1966 to 1969. Upon resigning from this position he was appointed Archbishop of the Titular See of Newport (Wales) by Pope Paul VI.

In 2002 Archbishop Sheen's Cause for Canonization was officially opened, and so he is now referred to as a