| "In the 1950's, the mentally retarded were among the | | | | U.S. News and World Report said in its cover story of |
| most scorned, isolated and neglected groups in | | | | Nov. 15, 1993. |
| American Society. Mental retardation was viewed as | | | | So, should Eunice Kennedy Shriver be considered for |
| a hopeless, shameful disease, and those afflicted with | | | | Sainthood? Consider this: |
| it were shunted from sight as soon as possible."1 | | | | In the Catholic Church the formal process of sainthood |
| What began as a summer camp at her Maryland | | | | involves a complicated process taking time, money, |
| farm in 1968, developed into the first Special Olympics | | | | testimonies, and miracles, and the church follows a |
| which attracted 1,000 athletes from 26 states and | | | | strict set of rules in the process. |
| Canada for competition. | | | | First, to determine who qualifies, the Vatican looks to |
| The idea was born when a mother telephoned Eunice | | | | its Congregation for the "Causes of Saints". Typically, a |
| Kennedy Shriver and complained that she could not | | | | would-be candidate's "cause" is presented to the local |
| find a summer camp for her child. Mrs. Shriver recalled | | | | bishop by his or her admirers who persuade him that |
| the telephone conversation this way in an interview | | | | the life of the candidate was a model of holiness. |
| with NPR: "I said: You don't have to talk about it | | | | Once the applicant is approved as a candidate, an |
| anymore. You come here a month from today. I'll start | | | | appointed postulator interviews those who knew the |
| my own camp. No charge to go into the camp, but | | | | individual. Personal testimonies, letters, and writings of |
| you have to come and pick your kid up." | | | | the candidate's are put together. A relater then sifts |
| "She set out to change the world and to change us" | | | | through this information and prepares a position paper. |
| her family said, when she died, "and she did that and | | | | If the volumes of evidence prove a life of "heroic |
| more." | | | | virtue", the person is given the title "venerable" by the |
| At the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games | | | | Pope. |
| in Shanghi,China, a crowd of 80,000 cheered and | | | | The next title, beatified (blessed), is attained if it can be |
| welcomed 7,000 athletes, a country with a history of | | | | proven that a miracle occurred after the death of the |
| severe discrimination against anyone born with | | | | candidate, the result of someone praying to that |
| disablities. | | | | person for help. |
| The program has now grown to three million athletes | | | | To finalize a canonization, it must be established that a |
| in 180 countries. | | | | second miracle occurred. (Martyrs are the exception. |
| Eunice Kenndy Shriver (puni-Euni, her family nick name) | | | | The pope can reduce their miracle requirement to one |
| died on August 11, 2009 at age 88. | | | | or waive it altogether.) Most often prayer requests are |
| Eunice, the middle child in a family of nine, grew up with | | | | for a physical healing. |
| a sister Rosemary, who was mildly retarted. She | | | | Verifying a miracle is considered the most difficult |
| detested the practice of keeping people with mental | | | | hurdle in the process. Just deciding what constitutes |
| disabilities sedentary lest they injure themselves, or of | | | | one causes debate. A life of heroic virtue is obviously |
| keeping their existence a secret. | | | | easier to establish than a healing that results from |
| "When the full judgement of the Kennedy legacy is | | | | prayers. |
| made - including J.F.K.'s Peace Corp and Alliance for | | | | Editors note: I'd like to cast the first vote for her as "An |
| Progress, Robert Kennedy's passion for civil rights and | | | | American Saint." |
| Ted Kennedy's efforts on health care, workplace | | | | 1. The Kennedy Family, and the Story of Mental |
| reform and refugees - the changes made by Eunice | | | | Retardation... |
| Shriver may well be seen as the most consequential." | | | | |