POSITIO

To the Congregation for the Causes of Saints,

Your Eminences,

I have the pleasure of concluding the diocesan phase for the Cause of the Reverend James Peter Cullen, Servant of God. Enclosed in this package, you will find all the requested materials to complete the initial positio.

The first attachment is a biography of James Cullen, which was assembled by his former student, the Reverend Daniel Quinn. As much information as is known has been included in this biography. It must be noted that some details regarding Cullen’s early life are based on Quinn’s recollections and cannot be easily verified. Other than this, every detail has been verified by myself as true, using public records and historical archives.

I realize the size of this package is seemingly inadequate. In most cases presented before the Congregation, there is usually a collection of writings to be examined by censors. I regret to say that in this particular case, there is only one work known to exist. Shortly before his death, James Cullen was commissioned by the State of Massachusetts Department of Corrections to write a handbook for prison chaplains. It is not known if he finished writing the book and, if so, any copies were ever made. The commission was withdrawn and Cullen’s book was rejected in favor of a more ecumenical handbook. One fragment was discovered, a page found inside Cullen’s Bible, which appears to be a draft for the preface. It is included here for posterity.

Also included are the affidavits of witnesses to the miracle attributed to Cullen. Other relevant material is still in the process of being gathered but it must be confessed that some time has passed since the death of the Reverend Cullen and due to the nature of the penal system, which was Cullen’s primary ministry, many direct witnesses to his life have already been lost. This is a pity, since he was exactly the type of man whose legacy was written on the lives of those he touched. What is here is a merely a small sample of witnesses, though his reputation has grown steadily since his death. The recently-renovated chapel at Walpole Prison is already informally referred to as the “Cullen Chapel” by inmates and guards alike.

There is no doubt in my mind that he was a Servant of God and is worthy to be considered for beatification.

Yours in the Lord,

Reverend Matthew Moore,
Office of the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston

June 22, 1984