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| No body in exhumed Newman's grave | No body in exhumed Newman's grave |
| (1 day later) | |
| The grave of the 19th Century Cardinal John Henry Newman did not contain his body, the Catholic Church has revealed. | The grave of the 19th Century Cardinal John Henry Newman did not contain his body, the Catholic Church has revealed. |
| The plot, at the Oratory House, Rednal, near Birmingham, was excavated on Thursday at the Vatican's request. | |
| His remains were to have been moved to the Birmingham Oratory, in preparation for Newman's anticipated beatification. | His remains were to have been moved to the Birmingham Oratory, in preparation for Newman's anticipated beatification. |
| Newman's body may have decomposed, as his coffin was not lead-lined. Its absence will not affect the progress of his cause in Rome, a spokesman said. | Newman's body may have decomposed, as his coffin was not lead-lined. Its absence will not affect the progress of his cause in Rome, a spokesman said. |
| Permission for the exhumation was given by the Ministry of Justice, said Peter Jennings from the Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory. | |
| Burial in a wooden coffin in a very damp site makes this kind of total decomposition of the body unsurprising Peter Jennings | Burial in a wooden coffin in a very damp site makes this kind of total decomposition of the body unsurprising Peter Jennings |
| In a statement released on Saturday, he said: "Brass, wooden and cloth artefacts from Cardinal Newman's coffin were found. | |
| "However there were no remains of the body of John Henry Newman. | "However there were no remains of the body of John Henry Newman. |
| "An expectation that Cardinal Newman had been buried in a lead-lined coffin proved to be unfounded. | "An expectation that Cardinal Newman had been buried in a lead-lined coffin proved to be unfounded. |
| "In the view of the medical and health professionals in attendance, burial in a wooden coffin in a very damp site makes this kind of total decomposition of the body unsurprising. | "In the view of the medical and health professionals in attendance, burial in a wooden coffin in a very damp site makes this kind of total decomposition of the body unsurprising. |
| "The absence of physical remains in the grave does not affect the progress of Cardinal Newman's cause in Rome." | "The absence of physical remains in the grave does not affect the progress of Cardinal Newman's cause in Rome." |
| 'Inexplicable' cure | 'Inexplicable' cure |
| Newman is in line to become the first non-martyred English saint since before the Reformation. | Newman is in line to become the first non-martyred English saint since before the Reformation. |
| The step-by-step process for his beatification began at the Birmingham Oratory in the late 1950s. | The step-by-step process for his beatification began at the Birmingham Oratory in the late 1950s. |
| It continued with Pope John Paul II declaring Newman to be Venerable in January 1991. | It continued with Pope John Paul II declaring Newman to be Venerable in January 1991. |
| However, in order for Newman to be beatified - the next stage in the process towards sainthood - a miracle needs to be credited to him by the Vatican. | However, in order for Newman to be beatified - the next stage in the process towards sainthood - a miracle needs to be credited to him by the Vatican. |
| It is investigating a claim that Jack Sullivan, a deacon from Boston, Massachusetts, was cured of a serious spinal disease after praying to the cardinal. | It is investigating a claim that Jack Sullivan, a deacon from Boston, Massachusetts, was cured of a serious spinal disease after praying to the cardinal. |
| An inscription plate was recovered from the cardinal's grave | An inscription plate was recovered from the cardinal's grave |
| If it is to beatify Newman, the Catholic Church has to accept this was a miraculous cure, with the Pope - known to be an admirer of the cardinal - taking the final decision. | If it is to beatify Newman, the Catholic Church has to accept this was a miraculous cure, with the Pope - known to be an admirer of the cardinal - taking the final decision. |
| A second miracle would need to be credited to Newman before he could be canonized. | A second miracle would need to be credited to Newman before he could be canonized. |
| Mr Jennings said that some of the cardinal's locks of hair which had been sent to Sullivan before his "inexplicable" cure had always been in the possession of the Birmingham Oratory. | Mr Jennings said that some of the cardinal's locks of hair which had been sent to Sullivan before his "inexplicable" cure had always been in the possession of the Birmingham Oratory. |
| He said that these items, along with the artefacts which were found in the grave, would be placed in a casket for a Vigil of Reception on 31 October and 1 November. | He said that these items, along with the artefacts which were found in the grave, would be placed in a casket for a Vigil of Reception on 31 October and 1 November. |
| The vigil will be followed by a High Mass at the Oratory Church in Edgbaston the next day. | The vigil will be followed by a High Mass at the Oratory Church in Edgbaston the next day. |
| Newman, who founded the Birmingham Oratory and was known for his work with the poor, converted to Catholicism in 1845. He died in 1890. | Newman, who founded the Birmingham Oratory and was known for his work with the poor, converted to Catholicism in 1845. He died in 1890. |