The Roman Catholic priest who founded Boys Town just outside Omaha is a step closer to sainthood.

Archbishop George Lucas officially named the Rev. Edward Flanagan a "servant of God" in a ceremony on Saturday. That was an expected step in the process the Omaha Archdiocese began last month.

Now a tribunal will review Flanagan's life, which was depicted in the Academy Award winning 1938 movie "Boy's Town," for evidence of miracles.

The Catholic church requires three more steps before Flanagan could become a saint. He would have to be venerated, beatified and canonized.

To be canonized, at least two miracles must be attributed to a person, but the pope can waive some of the requirements for sainthood.