A Newly Venerable New Yorker

Pope Benedict XVI has given his approval for Father Felix Varela to be given the status of “venerable” — which means that he could be beatified with the recognition of one miracle granted through his intercession, and canonized with the recognition of a second.

Born in Cuba in 1788, he was ordained a priest at age 23. In 1821, he was elected to represent Cuba in the Spanish Parliament. Among the laws he proposed were one calling for the abolition of slavery and another calling for self-rule for Spain’s colonies in the Americas. After his exile from Cuba in 1823 -- the king of Spain was not amused by Varela's proposals -- he worked for 30 years in the diocese of New York, as vicar general and advocate for Irish immigrants.

More at Wikipedia.