Oh, When the Lefty Saints Go Marching In

By Sean Gregory

Fidel Castro's brother Ramon declared that the reportedly ailing Cuban leader was "doing very well, protected by the socialist saints." Holy proletariat! Although the Roman Catholic Church is no fan of communism, the Rev. James Martin, author of My Life with the Saints, points out that the good works of many church figures would make any socialist proud. "Of course the saints are praying for Fidel," Martin says. "But then again, they pray for everybody." Here are a few that might qualify as socialist saints.

DOROTHY DAY The co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933, Day was a dedicated servant to the poor. Before converting to Catholicism, she wrote for several Marxist publications. She's a candidate for sainthood.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI The patron saint of animals took a vow of poverty in 1208 and rejected private property. In fact, St. Francis once stumbled upon a house his monks had built for themselves and pulled off the roof tiles.

OSCAR ROMERO Assassinated during Mass in 1980, Romero, the Archbishop of San Salvador, once said, "A church that does not unite itself to the poor ... is not a true church of Christ." Like Day, he could become a saint.