September 30, 2010
For an institution that deals so much in symbol, the church has chosen Mother Mary KacKillop as a candidate for canonization who brings with her an unusual and timely depth and richness. MacKillop was an Australian once excommunicated by her bishop for denouncing clerical sexual abuse.
Talk about a saint for our times. Jesuit Fr. James Martin plumbs the implications of the canonization in a wonderful essay on the America Magazine blog.