The Latest: Oklahoma-born Catholic priest beatified

The Latest: Oklahoma-born Catholic priest beatified
OKARCHE, Okla. (AP) – The Roman Catholic Church’s first U.S.-born martyr has been beatified, bringing the Oklahoma native a step closer to possible sainthood.
A letter from Pope Francis declaring the Rev. Stanley Rother (ROW-THUR) as blessed was read at a Mass in Oklahoma City, completing the beatification process.
Rother was born in Okarche, Oklahoma, and died in 1981. He was one of several Catholic priests who were killed during the civil war in Guatemala.
Francis declared Rother a martyr in December. This is only the second beatification held in the United States.