“If canonization of Australia’s Mary MacKillop, who died in 1909, is taking a relatively long time, compared to that of Mother Teresa, six years dead, part of the reason is that Indians are less litigious.” Among legal fears that might slow down the process at various stages: “A doctor who treated an individual might be miffed by claims that the cure had no medical explanation. There is also privacy legislation, which might be referred to by relatives objecting to church investigators nosing into the departed one’s affairs. … According to Sister Maria Casey, who is handling the processing of Mother Mackillop, ‘it is not very easy these days because of threats of litigation'”. (Malcolm Brown, “Saint? Call the lawyers”, Melbourne Age, Oct. 27; longer version, Sydney Morning Herald) (& welcome Eugene Volokh readers; he says nice things about us)(& welcome Carnival of the Capitalists readers).

Filed under: Australia, Catholic Church