Leonardo Franchi reflects on St John Henry Newman as a Doctor of the Church
The news that St John Henry Newman will soon be a doctor of the Church is very welcome. This event must be much more than a celebration of Newman’s contribution to Catholic thinking on many topics but should jolt us into taking seriously the written treasures he bequeathed the Church.
Commentators on social and traditional media will be gearing up to offer insights and reflections on his work. That is all to the good. What is more important is not to read about Newman but to read Newman: go to the primary sources and make the time to study carefully his words.
Newman’s work covered many bases. One of his significant contributions was to the life of the university. The Idea of A University is now a classic text in the field but new generations of university educators must be invited to re-engage with this work and critically apply his ideas to the contemporary campus. What can Newman’s vision say to the world of AI, to “cancel culture” and to so-called professional degrees?
University teachers in Catholic universities should welcome Newman’s elevation to doctor of the Church. Patient reflection on The Idea of a University will reward the inquisitive academic with insights into pedagogy as reflected through a Christian lens. Perhaps now is the ideal time to open its pages, perhaps for the first time, and either alone or with like-minded colleagues, allow ourselves to be challenged by Newman’s invitation to see beyond the confines of curricular straightjackets and embrace the universality of knowledge.
Leonardo.franchi@glasgow.ac.uk
Leonardo.franchi@nd.edu.au