Ruth V. K. Pakaluk Foundation suspends sainthood cause

The Ruth V. K. Pakaluk Foundation has suspended its petition to the Bishop of Worcester to formally open the cause for the beatification and canonization of Ruth Pakaluk. In a statement on its website, the foundation said the decision is based on considerations that extend beyond Pakaluk's life or witness.

The Vatican had previously granted the Diocese of Worcester permission to proceed with the cause in late September 2025. At that time, Pakaluk was named a Servant of God.

Pakaluk was a convert and pro-life activist who died in 1998 at age 41 after a battle with cancer. She was a mother of seven and served on the board of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. She and her husband, Michael Pakaluk, met while studying at Harvard University before embracing the Catholic faith.