U.S. Catholic bishops back Gertrude Barber's path to sainthood

[Dawn Marie]

Gertrude A. Barber's journey toward sainthood got a boost from the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States.

In 2019, the Catholic Diocese of Erie began the lengthy and rigorous process toward Barber being named a saint. This month, the U.S. bishops voted 205-6, with 19 abstentions, to affirm their support for the advancement of her cause of beatification and canonization, according to a news release from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.

Bishop Edward Lohse of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is the former vicar general of the Erie diocese and was involved in preparing the canonization cause for Barber that was opened by Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence Persico in a Dec. 12, 2019, decree. During the USCCB's fall meeting this year, Lohse delivered a presentation on Barber’s life and her work with children and adults with disabilities and their families.

Barber, who founded what is now the Barber National Institute in Erie in the 1950s, died in 2000.

Several more steps remain in the process before she could become a saint but supporters said the Nov. 12 vote by the bishops was an important step.

[Dawn Marie]

100%.  If Dr. Barber is not a saint who can be.

[Dawn Marie]

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