NEW JERSEY
The Record

NOVEMBER 14, 2014
BY ALFRED P. DOBLIN
THE RECORD

Alfred P. Doblin is the editorial page editor of The Record. Contact him at doblin@northjersey.com. Follow AlfredPDoblin on Twitter.

THE WORD “miracle” is often used in the Catholic Church. In October, Pope Francis beatified Pope Paul VI, the first step toward sainthood. Popes John XXIII and John Paul II were canonized saints in April of this year.

Two miracles must be attributed to a candidate for sainthood. The process focuses on miracles affecting individuals; one affecting an institution may be occurring before our eyes.
Francis, elected by a body of cardinals mostly selected for their conservative views and lack of personal charisma, is emerging as the most progressive, charismatic pope since John XXIII. If this isn’t a miracle, I’m not sure what qualifies.

On Saturday, Francis demoted Cardinal Raymond Burke, not a household…