When the Church declares someone a saint, it is more than simply that they were holy. A saint must be an example of life in a broad array of aspects. As such, even a strong connection to another’s grave evil can destroy a cause. I want to give some examples where the person might be holy, but they are too closely linked to grave evil. After, I will give a warning against canonizing certain people with similar connections.
Georges and Pauline Vanier
I think this married couple is an example of holiness in public office. Georges was the Canadian Envoy to the League of Nations and then various European Governments in exile during World War II, then became the Governor General. Pauline stood by him.
They were both serious in their faith. They would start each day with daily Mass. Their record seems completely in accord with Catholic teachings, which is rare for even the best modern Catholic politicians. They were Catholic through and through by all accounts.
However, despite their cause being presented, they will likely never be canonized saints. Their son Jean Vanier founded a home for disabled people called L’Arche, which seems great. But it later came out that Jean was a repeat sexual abuser. I think this rightly kills their cause for canonization despite their seeming holiness.
Several Around Marcial Maciel
The founder of my own religious community, Fr. Marcial Maciel, was found to have been a serial sexual abuser. Before this came to light, people had put forward a cause for his mother, Maura “Maurita” Degollado Guízar to be a saint. She is even officially a servant of God. However, given her son’s actions, I think it is correct that her cause has essentially been abandoned.
There were also a few early members of the community who were holy. If it were not for Maciel’s crimes, they could even be canonized. However, people will say “they should have known about Maciel’s crimes.” Thus, I think it would be highly imprudent for anyone close to him to be named a saint. For example, Fr. Alvaro Corcuera, LC, who came after Maciel as General Director, seemed quite holy and was the one to announce Maciel’s crimes in 2009. I don’t think he should be canonized: his connection to Macile makes public veneration too much of a mess.
I think the leaders of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) are in a similar situation when sexual abuse of multiple members by the founder (Fr. Carlos Buela) was proven just before his death. We can’t canonize someone in leadership in the IVEs beside him as people will again say “he should have known.”
Warning: Other Holy People
There are several people I have seen proposed for canonization in Catholic and Orthodox Churches who may be holy on their own, but have similar things where someone close to them was a monster. I propose that we leave these people without canonization. Canonization is not needed to be edified by their example, but skipping it can help avoid the scandal related to canonizing those close to such evil people and trusting them.
A misjudgment of another’s character on its own does not remove sanctity, but it does make the public veneration appropriate of saints more difficult. Many times in cases like this, people will say, “(s)he should have known.” The holy person may be blameless, but prudence dictates not canonizing someone so close to such sin. Canonization is not just about personal holiness but about being an example in all aspects of life.
