Interview: Paul Shrimpton on Newman
Few figures in the modern Church have so fully combined sanctity and intellect as St John Henry Newman, nor spoken with such prophetic insight about the crises of faith and education today. When Pope Leo XIII declared Newman a Doctor of the Church, it marked the peak of a journey that began with his canonisation by Pope Francis in 2019.
Newman’s legacy, with his recent designation as Patron of Education, fuels ongoing reflection on conscience, reason, and the holistic formation of the person. Dr Paul Shrimpton, a leading Newman scholar and contributor to the official positio on Newman’s teaching, shares his thoughts on what this status means for the Church, Catholic education, and the modern quest for truth.
Catholic Herald Interview with Dr Paul Shrimpton
Did Cardinal Newman being raised to Doctor of the Church surprise you?
“At the time of Newman’s canonisation in 2019, many believed the door was open—English bishops just needed to advocate,” Shrimpton recalls. “Then, during a May 2024 visit to the Birmingham Oratory archives, Pope Francis had just approved the official process to begin.”
“The English bishops only need to push.”
This recognition highlights Newman’s enduring importance to the Church and Catholic education, especially in an era that demands renewed engagement with conscience and reason.
Legacy and Significance
- Newman as a unifier of faith and intellect
- His prophetic insight into contemporary religious and educational challenges
- Elevation to Doctor of the Church confirmed his teaching authority
- Named Patron of Education, renewing focus on holistic human formation
Dr Shrimpton’s reflections underscore Newman’s powerful role in guiding the Church’s approach to truth and learning today.
Summary: St John Henry Newman’s recognition as Doctor of the Church and Patron of Education revitalizes the Church’s commitment to conscience, reason, and the full development of the human person amid modern challenges.