We will try to answer any question you might send to us, but here are responses to some of the most frequently asked ones:
- Doesn't the Church say not to presume sainthood before an official declaration? Isn't American Saints and Causes promoting the cult of saints when it shouldn't? Yes, the Church cautions against assuming sainthood before formal canonization. But that is not to exclude private devotion. In fact, as part of the process, the Church will look to see what reputation for sanctity existed for the individual and by its nature the miracle process presumes people know of the individual and are seeking intercessory prayer. American Saints and Causes sees itself as a digital example of private devotion.
- What if we learn over time that one of these individuals has done something very wrong or not worthy of a saint? We are wise to remember that all saints were also sinners. Some of the world’s beloved saints have also done terrible deeds that we don’t focus on because, ultimately, they turned away from sin and united themselves to Christ. Even if the canonization process identifies something in a candidate’s life that results in the cause stopping, there may still be positive fruit for us that can be drawn from their life of faith. That said, as American Saints and Causes could help bring more attention to an individual as an example than the Church might later conclude is warranted, if appropriate, we will consider adjusting or removing a candidate’s entry.
- Why don’t I see an entry for [Individual X] when I am certain [Individual X’s] cause is open? While we try our best to keep American Saints and Causes complete, there is no accessible official list of causes from the United States. Despite our best efforts, we may be unaware of one. Please use the Cause Submission or Correction Form to send us the relevant information on the individual and we will look into it.
- I don't think [Individual X] is really associated with the United States. Why is [Individual X] included? For some candidates, it is straightforward to determine whether they can be fairly described as a saint or candidate for canonization from the United States or its territories. For others, a judgment call must be made. We look at all the available context and make the best judgment we can. We do not pretend that our database is completely exhaustive or accurate, but we believe it is the most comprehensive database available.
- What should I do if I know that the data for [Individual X] is not accurate? While we try our best to keep American Saints and Causes accurate, some of the data can be hard to locate or the Church doesn’t always capture it or follow the same methodologies consistently. Please use the Cause Submission or Correction Form to send us the information and we will review it.
- I am an official representative of the cause for the canonization of [Individual X]. Is it possible to collaborate with American Saints and Causes to help promote awareness and advance the cause? Yes! It is our hope that American Saints and Causes can be a way for Individual causes to amplify their message and spread awareness of the heroic lives of virtue of their candidates. Drop us a note with your ideas and we would love to explore ways we could help.
- Does American Site and Causes endorse all the books listed on the site? Why link to books out of stock or that are overpriced? We have tried to identify books on the individuals represented on American Saints and Causes that would help people learn more about these holy men and women and are generally available. With so many individuals, it is not possible to have reviewed all of the books before listing them. Where possible, we have favored selections from publishers with solid reputations for respect of Catholic subjects and quality writing. Although we have read some and would recommend those to others, in general we view the books primarily as reference points for additional research. This same reason is why we have linked to out of print or vastly overpriced used book listings when alternatives were lacking. We presume the name of a work might be of aid to one looking to learn more than listing no works at all. Finally, the purchase of certain books linked on American Saints and Causes may earn American Saints and Causes an affiliate commission.
- Is the Litany for the United States approved by the Church? The Litany for the United States was prepared for private devotional purposes only. It is modeled off of Church approved litanies of the saints and so it contains many elements that appear in Church approved prayers. Many of the petitions are modeled after the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy that the Church encourages the faithful to practice. And we are not presently aware of anything that would contradict Catholic teaching. However, no, it is not Church approved. Out of prudence, the Litany for the United States was reviewed by the censor for the Diocese of Joliet, who determined, given its content, it was unnecessary to issue an imprimatur.
- Is American Saints and Causes monetizing its content? American Saints and Causes, first and foremost, is a gift of love to the Church, in response to the unimaginable love we have been shown by Christ. There are costs to operating this site. If there are appropriate and respectful ways to defray those costs, we do reserve the right to explore those options, so we can ensure American Saints and Causes can be available as a resource to all for generations to come. If you have concerns, don't hesitate to contact us. See the Legal page for more information.
