Hartwell de la Garde Grisell, co-founder of the Newman Society

Hartwell de la Garde Grissell was born in 1839 as the son of Thomas Grissell, a prosperous public works contractor. He was educated at Harrow School and in 1859 matriculated to Oxford University as a commoner of Brasenose College.

During his time at Oxford Grissell came under the influence of the leading tractarian, Dr. Henry Parry Liddon. He became increasingly involved with the Anglican High Church movement and was admitted to the Brotherhood of the Holy Trinity, a movement existing to promote High Church principles within the University.

It was at also Oxford that Grissell developed a strong interest in ecclesiastical ritual. He came to believe that the Book of Common Prayer had its roots in the Catholic liturgy and argued for greater ritualism in Anglican worship. In 1865 he published a work called 'Ritual Inaccuracies', in which he attempted to 'bring the rubrics of the Protestant Communion Service into line with those of the Roman Missal'.[1] Reminiscing about this period of his life he was to write:

I soon came to the conclusion myself that this exhumation of scraps and snatches of an ancient rite, and the profane distortion of the rubrics of the Roman Missal for the disguise of Protestant worship was little better than an imposture.[2]

Whilst working on his book Grissell came into contact with a number of Catholic priests and developed a leaning towards Roman Catholicism. Under the direction of Fr. Edward Caswall, a priest of the Birmingham Oratory, Grissell began to read Catholic works. Writing in the year of his death, he recalled his conversion:

I came, after careful study of the question, to the conclusion that the Church of England, being purely a national Church, could hardly be considered Catholic and universal, in the sense of its being the Divine teacher of all nations, and that it was in schism … Prayer at length obtained for me the inestimable happiness of submitting myself to the Church, and of obtaining thereby the full certitude of my possessing undoubted and valid sacraments, and the enjoyment of that peace on earth which the true old faith can alone assure.[3]

Grissell was received into the Catholic Church on 2 March 1868, at the hands of Henry Edward Manning, the Archbishop of Westminster.

In 1869 he moved to Rome, where he served as Cameriere (a Chamberlain of Honour) to Pope Pius IX. The Cameriere wore a Spanish-style costume with cape and sward and had the duty of attending upon the Pope during ecclesiastical and state functions. With his love of ritual Grissell relished life in the Papal Court, and writing in later life he reminisced:

Having had the privilege for a period of some thirty-five years of being Chamberlain to three successive Pontiffs, [I have] many diaries … These many interesting reminiscences include an Œcumenical Council, four Jubilees, three Canonizations, two Papal Consecrations of Bishops, many Consistories (including those at which Cardinals Manning, Howard, and Newman received their hats), a Blessing of the Golden Rose, and of the Ducal Sword and Cap, an 'Anno Santo,' two Conclaves, and two Coronations, as well as many pilgrimages and visits of Sovereigns to His Holiness.[4]

The temporal power of the Pope came to an end in 1870, when Victor Emmanuel II seized Rome, but Grissell nonetheless continued to serve under Pius IX and his two immediate successors, Leo XIII and St. Pius X. He was rewarded for his service, being created a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great and, in 1898, one of the four Papal Chamberlains 'di numero' (an honour usually reserved to the Roman nobility). Writing from Rome in 1900 Oscar Wilde referred to Grissell as a stalwart of the conservative Papal Court:

We came to Rome on Holy Thursday ... and yesterday, to the terror of Grissell and all the Papal Court, I appeared in the front rank of the pilgrims in the Vatican, and got the blessing of the Holy Father - a blessing they would have denied me. He was wonderful as he was carried past me on his throne--not of flesh and blood, but a white soul robed in white and an artist as well as a saint-the only instance in history, if the newspapers are to be believed. I have seen nothing like the extraordinary grace of his gestures as he rose, from moment to moment, to bless-possibly the pilgrims, but certainly me. [5]

Whilst residing in Rome Grissell amassed a vast collection of relics and sacred curios, including a portion of the Crown of Thorns and the entire body of St. Pacificus. The centrepiece of the collection was the reputedly miraculous image of the Madonna called 'Mater Misericordia' (now housed in the Oxford Oratory and popularly known as 'Our Lady of Oxford'), to which Pius IX granted indulgences at Grissell’s request. Besides being an expert in matters liturgical, Grissell was a noted numismatician and was elected to a fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of London.[6]

When not serving at the Papal Court, Grissell resided at 60 High Street in Oxford. Here he set up a private oratory, which was frequented by many early convert members of Oxford University. In 1877 he suggested the possibility of establishing a society for the University's Catholics and in the following year this idea came to fruition with the foundation of Oxford University Newman Society (which prior to 1888 was called Oxford University Catholic Club). Grissell was also to be influential in persuading Leo XIII to lift the papal ban on Catholics attending the English universities; this was to result in the foundation of Oxford University's Catholic Chaplaincy.[7]

Grissell died in Rome on 10 June 1907, leaving his relic collection to the parish of St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Oxford.

To mark the centenary of his death in 2007 the Newman Society mounted an exhibition commemorating his life and times, which was held in his Oxford alma mater, Brasenose College.  Details were posted here on the Newman Society's blog. 

    By Richard Pickett

    Exeter College

The founders of the Newman Society

outside St. Aloysius' Church, Oxford, 1878;

standing, second-from-right, Gerard Manley Hopkins,

fourth-from right, Grissell

This article has been posted on wikipedia.

Notes:

[1] Hartwell de la Garde Grissell, Ritual Inaccuracies (J. Masters & Co, 1865)

[2] 'Hartwell de la Garde Grissell, Esq, MA, Brasenose College, Oxford' in J. Godfrey Rupert, Roads to Rome: Being Personal Records of Some of the More Recent Converts to the Catholic Faith (Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co, 1908).

[3] 'Hartwell de la Garde Grissell, Esq, MA, Brasenose College, Oxford' in J. Godfrey Rupert, Roads to Rome: Being Personal Records of Some of the More Recent Converts to the Catholic Faith (Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co, 1908).

[4] Hartwell de la Garde Grissell, Sede Vacante, being a Diary written during the Conclave of 1903, with additional Notes on the Accession and Coronation of Pius X (James Parker & Co, 1903).

[5] http://www.readbookonline.net/read/9873/23977/

[6] John Evans, Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society Vol VII (Read Books, 2006, p.35)

[7] Alberic Stackpoole OSB, 'The Return of Roman Catholics to Oxford' in New Blackriars, vol. 67, issue 791, p. 225

Term Card TT10

FIRST WEEK
Tuesday 27th June from 8.30pm
The Rev. Fr. James Pierero (Opus Dei)
Reflections on the Beatification of John Henry Newman: An Historical Perspective


SECOND WEEK
Tuesday 4th May, 8.30pm
The Very Rev. Richard Duffield, CongOrat (Postulator of Newman's Cause and Past-President)
Preparing for the Beatification of John Henry Newman


THIRD WEEK
Wednesday 12th May
THOMAS MORE LECTURE
His Eminence Sean Cardinal Brady (Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland)
The Challanges facing the Irish Church in the Twenty-First Century

SOLEMN PONTIFICAL MASS AND TERMLY BLACK-TIE DINNER IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS EMINENCE


FOURTH WEEK
Tuesday 18th May, 7-9pm
Newman Society Jazz Evening at the Oxford Union

Saturday 22nd May
Pilgrimage to Newman's 'College' at Littlemore
A joint event with the Catholic Society. Depart from the Catholic Caplaincy at 9.30am. Mass to be celebrated by Fr. Daniel Seward, CongOrat (Past-President)


FIFTH WEEK
Tuesday 25th May, 8.30pm
The Rev. Fr. Antoni Uccrler, SJ
Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Matteo Ricci: Missionary and Scholar in the Middle Kingdom


SIXTH WEEK
Tuesday 1st June, 8.30pm
Mr. Damian Thompson (Blogs Editor of the Daily Telegraph)
Universtanding the Relationship Between the Church and the Media

Friday 4th June
SOLEMN PONTIFICAL VESPERS
Celebrated by The Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin (Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland)
Followed by dinner and lecture at the Catholic Chaplaincy


SEVENTH WEEK
Tuesday 12th June
Meeting with The Most Rev. Vincent Nichols (Archbishop of Westminster)
Leaving Oxford Railway Station at 7.30am. Morning Coffee with Archbishop Nichols. Lunch in London and a tour of Westminster Cathedral in the afternoon.


EIGHTH WEEK
Tuesday 15th June
The Rev. Fr. Jerry Hughes SJ and The Rev. Fr. Philip Endean SJ
What is the Point of Being a Jesuit Today?

Saturday 20th June
Garden Party (A joint event with the Catholic Society)
Campion Hall, 3-6pm


Unless otherwise stated meetings take place at The Old Palace (Catholic Chaplaincy), which is located in Rose Place, just off St. Aldates and opposite Christ Church Memorial Gardens.


Speaker dinners are held at 7pm prior to Tuesday evening speaker meetings at a cost of £10 (three courses and wine). Please contact the President by the preceding Monday if you wish to dine.

Trinity Term 2010

The programme for Trinity Term is now up on the web-site!

A highlight of the term with be the visit of His Eminence Sean Cardinal Brady, who will deliver this term's Thomas More Lecture, celebrate Pontifical Mass, and be present at the termly black-tie dinner.

Paul Murphy MP delivers Thomas More Lecture

‘The Apostle Paul’ on making politics dull: 
Paul Murphy MP reflects on peace in Ireland

From The Catholic Herald, 19 March 2010 (click here for the original article):

As an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, and subsequently as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy MP played a pivotal role in bringing an end to violence in the province, writes Richard Pickett.

Despite being a practising Catholic he has succeeded in gaining respect from across the political and religious divide and has even won the nickname "the Apostle Paul" from arch-Unionist politician Ian Paisley.

In a recent lecture given to the Oxford University Newman Society Mr Murphy spoke about his role in driving forward the Northern Irish peace process. He told his audience: "My mission is to make politics as dull in Northern Ireland as they are everywhere else."

He said that he hoped the continuing process of devolution of power would bring about a situation in which schools, hospitals, policing and other bread-and-butter concerns would become the principal focus of political activity in the province.

Mr Murphy told the Newman Society that over a 30-year period 3,500 people had been killed out of a population of just one and a half million.

But one of the most remarkable things about recent Northern Irish politics, he said, had been the willingness of age-old enemies to come together in the face of this trauma.

As an avowed Labour politician Mr Murphy joked that he could never bring himself to enter into coalition with the Conservatives.

Despite this, he said that he felt privileged to have worked alongside people who had been able to set aside a painful and often very personal history for the sake of achieving a lasting peace.

The former Secretary of State observed that the role of religion in the conflict has often been mischaracterised.

Although the names Catholic and Protestant are employed as a common shorthand, the real divisions giving rise to violence have always been political.

Differences over national identity, and not religion, he said, have presented the most significant bar to achieving lasting stability.

Mr Murphy then turned to examine the positive role played by the churches in driving forward the desire for peace.

With Sunday church attendance at around 70 per cent of the province's population Northern Ireland remains the most religiously observant part of Britain and the churches wield a significant moral influence.

Mr Murphy said he felt privileged to be part of the Northern Ireland story, but that the real credit must be given to the people [of the province] themselves. His speech was part of a series of lectures put on by the Society [to examine the role plaid by religion in public life. Cardinal George Pell and Francis Campbell, British Ambassador to the Holy See, have given previous lectures in the series].

Photographs by James Bradley  

Click here for the full flickr set.

Newman's beatification confirmed to take place during Papal State Visit to Britain

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ENGLISH ORATORIES

16 MARCH 2010, 12 noon

BEATIFICATION OF CARDINAL NEWMAN

BY POPE BENEDICT XVI CONFIRMED

The Fathers and many friends of the English Oratories are delighted by the official announcement that our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI will beatify our founder, the Venerable John Henry Newman, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham during his visit to Britain in September. Newman made his home in the Archdiocese for all his adult life, first in Oxford, where he lived as an Anglican and was received into the Catholic Church, and later in Birmingham itself where he founded and worked in the Birmingham Oratory for over forty years.

The Holy Father's life-long devotion to Newman has made a profound contribution to understanding the depth and significance of our founder's legacy. His decision to beatify Newman in person confers a unique blessing upon the English Oratories and all who have drawn inspiration from Newman's life and work.

We joyfully look forward to welcoming the Holy Father, as well as the many pilgrims and visitors who will come to the Beatification ceremony and visit Newman's shrine at the Birmingham Oratory.

We also look forward to the challenging work of preparing for the Beatification in conjunction with Church and civil authorities. We pray that the Beatification will fittingly reflect both Newman's significance for the Universal Church and the honour paid to our Archdiocese and our country by the Holy Father's presence among us.

Very Rev. Richard Duffield

Provost of the Birmingham Oratory
and Actor of the Cause of John Henry Newman

Fr. Aidan Nichols Criticises the Critics

A talk which Fr. Aidan Nichols OP gave to the society a few years ago has appeared in print as Chapter I of his most recent book 'Criticising the Critics'.  The chapter is titled 'For Modernists' - not, we hope, a reference to its original audience!

In this book, Fr Aidan Nichols O.P. turns his attention onto contemporary critics of the Catholic Church: those who are inspired by modernist rationalism to reject the supernatural; those who regard the New Age as an acceptable surrogate for the Christian doctrine of salvation; academic theologians who reject the historical and biblical basis for Christianity. Also coming under scrutiny are feminists who see the Church as an expression of a patriarchal society; Protestants who play down Christ’s nature as a priest; progressive Catholics who hesitate about proclaiming the Gospel of Life; those who regard the Church’s sexual ethics as ‘unrealistic’, and critics of Fr Nichols' book The Realm.

Copies can be ordered from Family Publications.

Content:
Preface . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. For Modernists . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2. For Neo-Gnostics . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .29
3. For Academic Exegetes . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
4. For Feminists . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
5. For Liberal Protestants . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
6. For Progressive Catholics . . . . .  . . . . .103
7. For the Erotically Absorbed . . . .  . . . .121
8. For Critics of Christendom . . .. . .  . . . 137
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157

Preface:

Catholicism — and the Catholic Church at each stage of her history — is always well supplied with critics. When the Church is not all she should be — morally, intellectually, pastorally, aesthetically — such critics will often have useful points to make. And whenever, we may ask, is she all that she should be, short of the Parousia?

Critics essentially both benign and right-thinking are not, however, the only kind of critics that exist. Others, far from benign, may well be intemperate, even irrational, in their passions. Others again, possibly benign, offer their criticisms — whether from without or within — owing to a failure to grasp certain aspects of Catholic truth. This last category includes the critics this book has it in mind to criticise in turn.

I offer here a series of apologias for different facets of the truth of faith and morals held by the Church. The apologias are, it may be said, ill-assorted, and I can hardly deny the claim. It is part and parcel of the present conjuncture that intellectual assaults come from very different quarters at one and the same time. Those considered here are by no means all there are, but they are among those I personally have encountered and sought to answer. The audiences have been very varied — the Oxford Newman Society (Chapter 1); the annual conference of Kirkelig Fornyelse, the umbrella organisation of catholicising movements in Christianity in Norway (Chapter 2); the Walsingham Retreat of the (Anglican) Federation of Catholic Priests (Chapter 3); a summer school of (what became) the International Institute for Culture at Eichstatt in Bavaria (Chapter 4); the international bi-lateral dialogue of the Catholic Church with the Disciples of Christ at Klosterneuburg in Austria (Chapter 5); a day of recollection of the Association of Priests for the Gospel of Life (Chapter 6); a conference to the young clergy of the Giffard Society (Chapter 7); the Craigmyle lecture of the Catholic Union (Chapter 8).

With the partial exception of the opening chapter, I have not spent a great deal of time in describing the positions I oppose. I have preferred to concentrate on the positive exposition of Catholic truth. Each chapter might be described as a quid pro quo, an offering appropriate, in its own way, to each of the categories of person involved. Readers of The Lord of the Rings may recall how, after his ‘eleventy-first’ birthday party, Bilbo Baggins left a set of carefully selected and labelled packages for various miscreant family members and friends. Clearing out the hobbit-hole of my room, these essays serve mutatis mutandis a like end.

Finally, I would like to thank Fr Vivian Boland, of the Order of Preachers, for contributing a number of helpful suggestions and corrections.

Blackfriars, Cambridge
Memorial day of St Francis Xavier, 2009

Hat tip: In Hoc Est Veritas.

Pontifical Mass and termly dinner HT10

Our old friend and Past-President, Fr. Tim Finigan, has posted the following report on the termly Mass and dinner on his Hermenutic of Continuity blog:

Yesterday evening the Oxford University Newman Society arranged for Pontifical High Mass at the Oxford Oratory, celebrated by Abbot Cuthbert OSB of Farnborough Abbey. (The photos of Mass are from Joseph Shaw's Flickr set.) I was Assistant Priest, which obliged me to some intensive study of Fortescue since this was the first time that I have acted in this capacity. The MC Yaqoob Bangash directed us all expertly and the choir sang Monteverdi's Mass for four voices as well as Victoria's Te Deum after Mass.

It was an "Et in Arcadia Ego" evening for me since I used to attend daily Mass at St Aloysius as an undergraduate, and lived just round the corner at 14 Wellington Square. Dinner after Mass was at St Benet's Hall and I had the opportunity to meet the Master, Rev J Felix Stephens OSB, a monk of Ampleforth Abbey who was a most gracious and genial host. The Newman Society seems to be thriving and the after-dinner speeches had various arcane references to shenanigans on the committee which, as I commented, were impenetrable to the outsider but all seemed to be good fun. It brought back memories from my own term as President in Hilary 1979.

My rambling as guest speaker was partly (and I hope excusably) taken up with reminiscence of 30 years ago, including the conclave of 1979 and the "Habemus Papam" announcement which I listened to on Vatican Radio in John Hayes' set at Keble. John was always an ardent follower of Vatican affairs and probably one of few people in the world to have exclaimed immediately at the word Carolum "My goodness: it must be Wojtyla!"

After dinner I got to re-visit Keble College for a gathering in the MCR. As ever, it was a little sad to have to take the train back to London after a brief opportunity to catch up with old friends and young friends. One of the men drew my attention to the number of vocations that have come from the Newman Society - a fact to which I had not explicitly adverted before. Long may heart speak to heart in that most venerable of Oxford societies.

For further reports on the Mass see LMS Chairman Blog and Rorate Caeli.

RINUNCE E NOMINE

Conor Gannon of Wolfson College, Junior Officer, has been appointed as next term’s President.

Tim Sherwin of Merton College, Treasurer, has been elected unopposed as President-Elect.  He will be President in MT10.

Next term Hubert MacGreevy of St. Peter's College, President, will continue to sit on the Executive Committee as a Past-President.

Demelza Shaw of All Souls has been co-opted to the Executive Committee as a Junior Officer.


Congratulations to them all!

Bishop Andrew Bernham speaks about realising Pope Benedict's vision for Angican unity

Last Tuesday Dr. Andrew Bernham, the Anglican Bishop of Ebbsflet, addressed the Newman Society on the subject of Pope Benedict XVI's Apsotolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus.  Dr. Joseph Shaw, Tutor in Philosophy at St. Benet's Hall, reports on the talk in his blog:

Last night Andrew Burnham, Bishop of Ebbsfleet, addressed a packed meeting of the Newman Society on the subject of Anglicanorum Coetibus. I was there. (Picture: Bishop Burnham is introduced by the President of Newman Society, Hubert MacGreevy)

Andrew Burnham is the Anglican Bishop of Ebbsfleet and one of the 'flying bishops' who has been ministering to Anglicans who can't accept the ordination of women since these ordinations were authorised in England in 1994. He and his fellow 'flying bishops' administer a third of the country each, looking after any parishes who sign up for this.

I don't intend to give a summary of his talk but here are a few of the things he said.

--------------------------

First of all, the Apostolic Constitution on the Anglicans was a response to discussions he had with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and also with Cardinal Kaspar of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Chrisian Unity about two years before it was published. It is also a response to discussions between Rome and the Traditional Anglican Communion, and no doubt other groups and individuals, but in no sense is the English 'Forward in Faith' / 'flying bishop' set-up a side issue for the Apostolic Constitution.

When he was first ordained in the Anglican church the 'Anglo-Papalist' position was to recognise the Pope and work to re-unite Anglicanism with him. This was not such an extravagent view since the ARCIC talks seemed to be heading in this direction, but eventually the issue of the ordination of women pulled Anglicanism the other way. When he was made a 'flying bishop' he did so on the understanding that he would be continuing this stalled ecumenical project.

Since 1994 he has worked to create a sense of community among the very idiosyncratic and geographically scattered Anglo-Catholic parishes under his care. A good deal of progress has been made, making it much more likely that a good proportion of them will be able to come over to full communion with Rome as a body. His ideal would naturally be that they all came over, but this is clearly not going to happen.

He was very interesting on the subject of how the typical Anglo-Catholic parish is similar to, and different from, a Catholic one. Anglo-Catholic parishes tend not to have medieval buildings; they are the successors of the High Anglicans who built churches for the unchurched poor in the growing cities of the 19th Century. Their liturgy tends to be the 1970 Missal in English, distinguished outwardly from that of a Catholic parish mainly by the hymns. But they do have a different attitude to church-going: whereas a Catholic, at least a serious-minded one, will go to great lengths to get to some Mass or other on a Sunday if things disrupt his usual routine, an Anglo-Catholic who can't make the usual 9.30 service won't bother going to something else instead. They are very attached to their physical church, and lack the sense of 'Sunday obligation'. The attachment to the church, as has often been pointed out, will be a sticking point for many in joining an Ordinariate.

He was cautious not to make any promises about what he or anyone else would do, and when, but is was clear enough that he is going to join the Ordinariate and will be bringing others with him. Nothing will happen until the Anglican Synod debate on provision for Anglo-Catholics when women are ordained to the episcopate: he said he didn't want to go down in history as the man who scuppered the chances of a good deal for Anglo-Catholics staying in the Anglican Communion.

On the Ordinariate itself, he said that what happened after 1994 was that Anglican clergy who wanted to 'swim the Tiber' and become Catholic priests received three years' training before ordination. This created the problem that by the time they were back in circulation the Anglican laity who might have gone with them had dispersed. The key issue with the Ordinariate is to make possible the continuity of the communities and pastors so that whole groups will be able to come accross together.

--------------------------------

Bishop Burnham spoke with great fluency and charm, in a witty and self-deprecating way, and without notes. His talk was less than an hour long and there are many issues which he didn't settle, but it gave the audience many important insights into the situation.

As I have written before [Dr. Shaw is Chairman of the Latin Mass Society], the conversion of groups of Anglicans is a matter of great interest to Traditionally-minded Catholics, for a number of reasons, not all of which may seem obvious.

First, the Anglican converts we have seen since 1994 and, come to that, since 1558, have been a huge boon to the Church, in terms of their talents and zeal; many convert clergy have come to the Latin Mass Society's Priest Training Conferences.

Second, the existence of an Ordinariate with a certain Anglican spirit and its own hierarchy is itself exciting. I do not accept the argument often made by Anglicans that 'if England is to be Christian again, it will only be in the uniquely English way represented by Anglicanism': Edmund Campion, Richard Challoner, and Pugin are quite English enough, to my mind. Nevertheless, the Ordinariate will clearly remove psychological obstacles to conversion for many Anglicans, and that is a good thing.

Third, it will create a degree of legimate diversity in the English Catholic Church which will be healthy. Fr Aidan Nichols OP argued forcefully at the LMS Priest Training Conference at London Colney last Summer that we need to recover a sense of legitimate diversity. In the past the Catholic Church was far more characterised by a diversity of Missals and also by jurisdictional complexity than it is today. The monolithic Post-Vatican II uniformity of the Church has in many ways been stifling.

Whether or not they make use of the 'Anglican Use' based on the Book of Common Prayer, parishes in the Ordinariate will have far fewer qualms about allowing the Traditional Mass. And they will also serve as a model of jurisdictional diversity, of a very similar kind to that proposed for Traditional Catholics in the context of the reconciliation of the SSPX.

So we await developments with interest!

Former Northern Ireland Secretary to deliver Thomas More Lecture

THE THOMAS MORE LECTURES 2009-2010

‘Religion in the public square’

The Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy, MP

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 2002 - 2005

Catholicism and the Northern Ireland Peace Process

Tuesday 9th March, Catholic Chaplaincy, 8.30pm 

The inaugural series of Thomas More Lectures is examining the role of religion in public life and discourse. As the Western World increasingly identifies itself as 'post-believing', can Christianity continue to play an effective role promoting the common good in the public forum?

The previous lectures in this series were given by Cardinal George Pell and Francis Campbell, British Ambassador to the Holy See.  They examined the positive role which religion can play in public life.  Last term's Thomas More Debate between Bishop John Arnold and Even Harris MP illustrated the challenges presented to religious communities in the face of increasing secularism.

In this lecture Paul Murphy, the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, will address the historic challenges presented by religious affiliation in the province. He will argue that instead of seeing faith as the problem, we can find in it the building blocks to take forward peaceful and constructive dialogue.

Further details about the Thomas More Lectures, including the text of past lectures, can be found here.


Paul Murphy - Biography
Paul Murphy has been Labour MP for Torfaen since 1987. He has served twice as Secretary of State for Wales; from 1999 until 2002 and most recently under Prime Minister Gordon Brown from January 2008 until June 2009. Upon leaving the Cabinet, he was elected British Co-Chair of the British-Irish Assembly.

He was previously Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from October 2002 until May 2005. When he was last Secretary of State, Paul Murphy was also Minister for Digital Inclusion, and given responsibility for overseeing the British-Irish Council and the joint ministerial committees. He has also chaired Cabinet committees on Local Government and the Regions, and on data security and information assurance.

In May 2005, Paul Murphy was appointed Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, serving until his re-appointment to the Cabinet in 2008.

Paul Murphy was Minister of State for Northern Ireland with responsibility for Political Development from 1997 to 1999, acting as Mo Mowlam's deputy in the talks that culminated in the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. In 1999, he was named 'Minister to Watch' at the Spectator Parliamentary Awards.

In opposition, he served as Shadow Welsh Office Minister (1988-1994), Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland, Shadow Foreign Office Minister and Shadow Minister for Defence.

Paul Murphy was born in 1948 and was educated at St Francis Roman Catholic School in Abersychan, West Monmouth School in Pontypool and Oriel College, Oxford. He was a management trainee with the CWS, before becoming a lecturer in Government and History at Ebbw Vale College of Further Education.

Mr. Murphy joined the Labour Party at the age of fifteen. He is also a member of Unite, formerly the Transport and General Workers Union. He was Secretary of the Pontypool/Torfaen Constituency Labour Party from 1971 to 1987. Mr. Murphy was a member of Torfaen Council from 1973 to 1987 and was Chair of its Finance Committee from 1976 to 1986. He contested Wells Constituency in Somerset in the 1979 General Election.

Mr. Murphy was made a Papal Knight of St. Gregory in 1997, a Privy Counsellor in 1999, and an Honorary Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, in 2000. He was Visiting Parliamentary Fellow of St. Anthony's College, Oxford from 2006 to 2007 and in 2009 was made a Fellow of Glyndwr University, Wrexham.

Mr. Murphy's leisure interests include classical music and cooking.

(Biographical text adapted from Paul Murphy's website)

Termly Mass and dinner

The termly Mass will take place at the Oxford Oratory on Monday 8th March at 7.15pm. The Mass will be a solemn Mass in the 'extraordinary form' and will be celebrated by the Abbot of Farnborough (NB Not the Abbot of Belmont, as previously scheduled).

The society is grateful to the Latin Mass Society, the St. Catherine of Sienna Trust, and Mr. Julian Chadwick for their generosity in sponsoring the music (which should be excellent) and other expenses associated with the Mass.

The termly black-tie dinner will follow after Mass and will take place at Benet’s Hall at 8.30pm. The cost is £40 (members), £45 (non-members). Cheques are payable to ‘Oxford Newman Society’. RSVP to Mr. President: newman @ herald.ox.ac.uk.

Dom Anthony Sutch on Catholic education

At the society's meeting this week the former Headmaster of Downside, Dom Antony Sutch OSB, spoke on Catholic education, not just in schools, but in the wider world. His talk took the form of a lively discussion for the last twenty minutes, in which was discussed the matter of teaching the faith to one's children and the need to educate others in the world around us about the faith.

Re-reading Shakespeare

Last Tuesday, 16th February, the independent Catholic academic, Claire, Viscountess Asquith of Oxford addressed the Newman Society on the Catholic readings behind Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. Viscountess Asquith shed light on this highly dramatic, but complex tragedy, drawing on the language and symbolism of the play that reflected the brutal world of 1590s Elizabethan England. Her argument was stimulating as both an historical insight into violent, troubled era of religious persecution, and also as a spiritual reflection upon the cruelties carried out both by and upon Catholics in past centuries.

Newman Society stars in major BBC series

Well, not quite.  The BBC's excellent Our Man in the Vatican series follows a year in the life of Francis Campbell, HM Ambassador to the Holy See.  If you look very carefully at around 11.50 in episode one you can see the society's recent invitation letter on his desk.  Woo!  Hurry, the programme expires on the iPlayer in just 19 days!

Francis Campbell delivered our second Thomas More Lecture on the subject of 'Faith and Foreign Policy' back in May.  The text of his lecture appears here on the Foreign Office website. 

Cardinal Pell visits Newman's Oratory at Birmingham

During Cardinal Pell's visit to the society last year some of our members accompanied him on a trip to the Birmingham Oratory.  The following report has recently gone up on the Bishops Conference's web-site.

Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, took the opportunity during a visit to England to make a short private visit to the Oratory House in Edgbaston, opened by Cardinal Newman in 1852, writes Peter Jennings.

Cardinal Pell was shown the shrine of Cardinal Newman's remains in the Oratory Church, visited Newman's Library and celebrated Mass in Latin at the altar in Newman's Room, on Thursday, 5 March.

Fr Paul Chavasse, Provost of the Birmingham Oratory and Actor of the Newman Cause, showed the Australian visitor Cardinal Newman's galero - the famous red hat once given to new Cardinals by the Pope.

Cardinal Pell shared his thoughts about his first visit to the house where Cardinal Newman spent much of his Catholic life: "I was profoundly moved. I thought it was deeply significant that Cardinal Newman's desk and chapel were together in the same room. All of his work was very much of a unity and I prayed that a smidgen of his ability to preach the word of God effectively to his contemporaries would pass to me.

"I noticed that there was a crucifix in front of me as I stood at the altar. I always find this a big help to recollection in celebrating Mass. This is the same at every altar where Mass is celebrated but is especially true of the altar where Cardinal Newman celebrated Mass."

Asked about Newman's beatification, Cardinal Pell replied: "I would very much like to see Cardinal John Henry Newman beatified. All of his many admirers would like to see this happen soon."

Asked about the significance of such a beatification, the Australian prelate emphasised: "Cardinal Newman knew well the two worlds of learning, Catholic and Secular. We need his memory and example to inspire many other Catholic writers and preachers today."

Cardinal Pell added: "Their task is to explore the opportunities now open to us to explain the Christian message - the romance of orthodoxy - to the many people throughout the world who are uneasy and searching."

At the end of his visit to Newman's Room, Cardinal Pell wrote in the visitors book: "A special thanks for the privilege of celebrating Holy Mass in this room where the work of the Kingdom was carried forward so wonderfully."

Cardinal George Pell was in Oxford (4-7 March) at the invitation of the Newman Society of Oxford University, to deliver the inaugural Thomas More Lecture on the subject: "Varieties of Intolerance - Secular and Religious." (Friday, 6 March).

Cardinal Pell also visited Newman's two Oxford Colleges, Oriel and Trinity.

During a previous visit to England the Cardinal had visited Littlemore, where Newman was received into the Catholic Church on 9 October 1845, by Fr (now Blessed) Dominic Barberi.

Phogrographs by Peter Jennings

Fr. Timothy Radcliffe calls for compassionate Catholicism

Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, the former world wide Master of the Dominicans, addressed an audience of sixty at the Newman Society on the theme of 'Being a Christian in the 21st Century'. He spoke movingly about the significance of the Trinity as a realisation of God's love for humanity, and the importance of dialogue on this basis. At the heart of his talk lay the core theme of the Church as both a dynamic, relevant force in the world today, which still adheres to ancient tradition and principles. Fr Timothy spoke about the Catholic's life being enriched by the appreciation of both, and how this in turn fosters a greater understanding and compassion towards those of other faiths.

Events for Hilary Term 2010

FIRST WEEK
Tuesday 19th January from 8.30pm
Start of Term Drinks Party
Join us in the Blue Room at the Chaplaincy for free drinks and canapés. All are welcome. If you are interested in becoming a member or simply want to learn more, please do come along.


SECOND WEEK
Tuesday 26th January, 8.30pm
Mr. Charles Moore
The role of the Church in modern British society
Charles Moore, renowned Catholic journalist, former editor of the Telegraph and Spectator, and chairman of Policy Exchange, will be speaking about the role of Catholicism in modern society.


THIRD WEEK
Tuesday 2nd February, 8.30pm
Speaker to be announced


FOURTH WEEK
Tuesday 9th February, 8.30pm
The Most Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, OP
Being a Christian in the twenty-first century
Father Timothy Radcliffe, former Master of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), is one of the most renowned British Catholic theologians. He will be speaking on Christianity today, from a Dominican perspective.


FIFTH WEEK
Tuesday 16th February, 8.30pm
Viscountess Asquith
Catholic readings behind Shakespeare’s ‘Titus Andronicus’
Clare Asquith, the author of Shadowplay, will be talking about the Catholic background behind Shakespeare’s most bloody and violent play, and explaining thereby, why the Shakespeare wrote the play as he did.


SIXTH WEEK
Tuesday 23rd February, 8.30pm
Dom Anthony Sutch, OSB
Catholic education in schools today
Father Anthony Sutch, former headmaster of Downside School, and now a regular speaker on ‘Thought for the Day’, will be speaking about Catholic education, drawing on his own experience as a headmaster.
 
 
SEVENTH WEEK
Tuesday 2nd March, 8.30pm
Dr. Andrew Burnham, SSC, Anglican Bishop of Ebbsfleet
Coming Over to Rome - Realising ‘Anglicanorum Coetibus’
As one of the most enthusiastic leaders in the Anglican Communion regarding the Holy Father’s invitation to Anglo-Catholics to ‘come over’ to Rome, his Lordship will speak about the situation faced by High Church Anglicans in the wake of the Pope’s recent Apostolic Constitution.


EIGHTH WEEK
Monday 8th March
Pontifical Mass and termly black-tie dinner
Celebrant and after-dinner speaker:
The Rt. Rev. Paul Stonham, OSB, Abbot of Belmont
The termly Mass will be a Pontifical Mass in the ‘extraordinary form’ celebrated by the Abbot of Belmont. The Mass will take place at the Oxford Oratory at 7.00pm and will be followed by our termly black-tie dinner, which will be held at at St. Benet’s Hall. More details will be given out by the President nearer the time. To reserve a place at the dinner e-mail: newman@herald.ox.ac.uk.

Tuesday 9th March
The Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy, MP
Catholicism and the Northern Ireland Peace Process
Paul Murphy, Labour Member of Parliament for Torfaen and Pontypool, played a major role in the Northern Ireland peace process, as Minister of State for Northern Ireland from 1997-99. As a Catholic politician, he will be talking about his role in helping to resolve an era of sectarian violence.

Some of our speakers for next term ...

Charles Moore
Mr. Moore is a journalist who writes for the Spectator and was Editor of The Daily Telegraph from 1995 to 2003. He will speak on his experience of being a Catholic journalist and political commentator.

Clare Asquith
Viscountess Asquith is an independent scholar and author of Shadowplay: The Hidden Beliefs and Coded Politics of William Shakespeare. She has addressed the society before and returns to speak about the Catholic background of Shakespeare’s Titus Adronicus.

Dom Anthony Sutch OSB
Fr. Sutch was formerly Headmaster of Downside and new serves as a Parish Priest in Suffolk. He will speak of Catholic education today, particularly in view of his experience as former Headmaster of Downside.

Further details will be announced shortly.

The Tablet reports on Bishop Arnold at the Newman Society

A respected canon lawyer said this week that Catholic bishops cannot sit in the House of Lords, writes Christopher Lamb.

Bishop John Arnold, an auxiliary in Westminster, said that canon law forbids an ordained person from taking up a position in the legislature.

His comments suggest that Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor would not be able to take a seat in the House of Lords. Earlier this year the Prime Minister suggested that the cardinal might be given a peerage.

“Jonathan Sacks [Chief Rabbi] is there but Catholics won’t be there because there is a canon in the code of canon law that says ordained clerics should not take part in any legislative forum in Government,” Bishop Arnold told a debate on religion in public life arranged by the Oxford University Newman Society.

Canon 285 states “clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power.” Other canon lawyers argued that the cardinal could exempt himself from parts of canon law, as long as he kept the Holy See informed. Bishop Arnold also said he was ambivalent about the position of Church of England bishops in the House of Lords.

“I’m really quite open to the question as to whether bishops in the Church of England should be in the House of Lords or not,” he said. “At the moment on the balance of things they do a reasonable job and they are their own men in terms of the opinions they hold.”

The bishop was debating opposite Dr Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat MP about the role of religion in public life. Dr Harris, who this year was awarded the title “Secularist of the year” by the National Secular Society, recently put forward amendments in the House of Commons to repeal the Act of Settlement, which forbids the monarch from marrying a Catholic. Bishop Arnold said that while he thought the law was “anachronistic” and should be changed, he “wasn’t going to lose sleep over it”. Dr Harris and Bishop Arnold agreed that people should not talk about Britain as a Christian country. “We shouldn’t talk about Christian Britain but Christianity in Britain,” the bishop said.

 

Click for a summary of the report in The Tablet

and here for commetary made in Damian Thompson's Telegraph blog.

Bishop John Arnold and Evan Harris MP debate Christianity and the constitution

The third in the Newman Society’s current series of Thomas More Lectures on ‘religion in the public square’ took place on Monday. Bishop John Arnold and Evan Harris MP debated ‘the role of religion in the British constitution’.

Dr. Evan Harris MP is an Oxford graduate and practices as a Medical Doctor.  He also sits as Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon. He was recently given the ‘Secularist of the Year’ award in recognition of his role in the abolition of the common law offence of Blasphemous Libel.

Bishop John Arnold, another Oxford graduate, practiced as a barrister before training for the Catholic priesthood. He now serves as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Westminster.

A train power failure at Didcot meant that Dr. Harris was delayed by over an hour. Substantial quantities of tea and coffee mollified the more than patient crowd until he arrived in a taxi.

Each speaker began with a ten minute presentation. In his opening remarks Bishop Arnold noted that The Tablet had billed the event as a bust up between the Church and secularism. He told the audience that he did not think that such an approach would be useful and said that he preferred to see the debate as an opportunity to have a constructive conversation: ‘There is always something to be learned by both sides. Dr. Harris and I are both here to try to evaluate an enormous subject and, hopefully, to discover some common ground.’ The Bishop continued his opening remarks by making the case for Christianity’s positive contribution to society.

Dr. Harris responded by saying he broadly agreed with the Bishop Arnold that the Christian churches made a valuable contribution to society; however, he believed that a constitutional bias towards Christianity was discriminatory and counterproductive to achieving social cohesion.

Following the opening submissions a civilized exchange took place addressing four key questions: Is Christian Britain dead? Is there a place for Bishops in the House of Lords? Can Christianity hold a privileged place in a pluralistic society? and Is Britain doing better with secularism?

After questions from the floor each speaker concluded with a short summation of what had been said. The speakers were thanked by Francis Davies, Director of the Las Casas Institute, who had moderated the discussion with great poise.

The occasion built on the two previous Thomas More Lectures examining the role of religion in the public forum, which were given by Cardinal George Pell and Francis Campbell earlier in the year. Next year the Thomas More Lectures will focus on the theme of ‘religion and science’.

The Tablet will be carrying a report of the lecture in its forthcoming edition. It is hoped that we will be able to post some more photographs shortly.

Bragging!

The drinks party this evening provided a good opportunity to relax after the business of yesterday's Thomas More Lecture. Reviving the tradition of students giving papers, Yaqoob Bangash gave a short talk on 'Christianity in India' which was followed by questions. It being the feast day of the Blessed Martyrs of Oxford University, Fr. John Moffatt then treated us to a rendition of 'Campion's Brag', in which the martyr St. Edmund Campion called the bluff of the Privy Council (click here for the full text). Here are just two of the nine articles from the 'brag':

v. I do ask, to the glory of God, with all humility, and under your correction, three sorts of indifferent and quiet audiences: the first, before your Honours, wherein I will discourse of religion, so far as it toucheth the common weal and your nobilities: the second, whereof I make more account, before the Doctors and Masters and chosen men of both universities, wherein I undertake to avow the faith of our Catholic Church by proofs innumerable—Scriptures, councils, Fathers, history, natural and moral reasons: the third, before the lawyers, spiritual and temporal, wherein I will justify the said faith by the common wisdom of the laws standing yet in force and practice.

vi. I would be loath to speak anything that might sound of any insolent brag or challenge, especially being now as a dead man to this world and willing to put my head under every man's foot, and to kiss the ground they tread upon. Yet I have such courage in avouching the majesty of Jesus my King, and such affiance in his gracious favour, and such assurance in my quarrel, and my evidence so impregnable, and because I know perfectly that no one Protestant, nor all the Protestants living, nor any sect of our adversaries (howsoever they face men down in pulpits, and overrule us in their kingdom of grammarians and unlearned ears) can maintain their doctrine in disputation. I am to sue most humbly and instantly for combat with all and every of them, and the most principal that may be found: protesting that in this trial the better furnished they come, the better welcome they shall be.

Dr Sheridan Gilley addresses the Newman Society

Last Tuesday, Dr Sheridan Gilley, Emeritus Reader of Theology at the University of Durham, addressed the society on "Newman and the Crises of Capitalism". We are extremely grateful to Dr Gilley as a long standing contributor to the society, this being the seventh time he has visited us. Dinner with the speaker was attended by committee members and by the Fr John, Fr Roger and Fr Simon of the Catholic chaplaincy amongst others.

Although Newman may not at first hand have much to contribute to our understanding of modern economic theory and its impact on society, Dr Gilley drew our attention to Newman's attacks on the character of Sir Robert Peel. Peel, Prime Minister of Britain briefly in 1834 and during 1841-46, can be seen as one of the greatest implementers of a free market capitalist policy during the 19th Century. The liberal Toryism of the heirs of Pitt was marked by its growing belief in the free market as shown by Hutchinson (the chap who died being hit by a train) and others at the Board of Trade. It is this programme that Peel is seen to have implemented.

Newman's basic attack against Peel lies in what he saw as the overly simplistic understanding of human nature by the free market policies that Peel was introducing. Dr Gilley made much of Newman's distrust of an unregulated market as a force against humanity and the integrity of the person. Perhaps such misgivings have been shown right by recent events. In all, the lecture proved to be an interesting contribution to a relevant topic as the apparent failure of fluctuations of the free market.

The Newman Revisted

Its amazing to see from a google book search just how many times the Newman Society is mentioned in print.  Most famously the society appears twice in Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited.  Here's a list of just a few more titles:

- Squires in the slums: settlements and missions in late-Victorian Britain

- Monsignor Ronald Knox, fellow of Trinity College, Oxford
- The Old Palace: a history of the Oxford University Catholic chaplaincy
- A medley of memories: fifty years' recollections of a Benedictine monk
- The life of Evelyn Waugh: a critical biography
- Oxford in the twenties: recollections of five friends

Click here for the full list.

Some interesting events

Oxford always has 'too much' going on.  We've been asked to spread the word about a number of events, all of which look very interesting:


OXFORD UNIVERSITY ORTHODOX SOCIETY
Talk by Fr Timothy Curtis: "The Orthodox Worldview"

Wednesday 25th November:

6 pm - Vespers (in the church on Canterbury Rd.)

7 pm – Talk and Dinner (St. Gregory’s House - across the yard to the left of the church)

Fr Timothy Curtis, from the University of Northampton, will be giving a talk about the Orthodox worldview, how it leads us to the beliefs we hold, and how it differs from other, non-Orthodox worldviews. This talk is especially suitable to invite your non-Orthodox friends to who might be curious about your faith. The more people of different backgrounds in attendance, the more potential for a very interesting discussion!


THE LAS CASAS INSTITUTE
Rt Hon Greg Clark MP - "Rethinking Enterprise And Climate Change"
Blackfriars, Friday 27th November, 1pm

Greg Clark was formerly Head of the Conservative Research Department and a leading international consultant. He holds the Phd from LSE and is a rising star in David Cameron's Conservative Party. Today he is on the Conservative frontbench as Shadow Secretary of State For Climate Change And Enterprise

RSVP Leah Mansfield on lascasas@bfriars.ox.ac.uk Tickets are free.


CHURCHES TOGETHER
Discussion panel on the 'News from Rome'
University Church, Monday 30th November, at 4.45pm.

The pannel will discuss the implication of Pope Benedict's recent Apostolic Constitution allowing the establishment of Anglican Ordinariates within the Catholic Church.

• Chairman: Canon Brian Mountford, Vicar of the University Church
• The Revd Dr Myra Blyth, Fellow and Tutor in Pastoral Studies and College Chaplain, Regent’s Park College
• The Right Revd Andrew Burnham, Bishop of Ebbsfleet
• Canon Dr Judith Maltby Chaplain and Fellow of Corpus Christ College, Reader in Church History
• Fr Ladislas Orsy SJ D’Arcy Lecturer, Canon Lawyer, Peritus at the Council
• Fr Felix Stephens OSB Master, St Benet’s Hall

Questions will be welcomed. Anyone wishing to raise a particular issue, or to make a brief statement, is welcome to send an e-mail beforehand to: john.paton@chch.ox.ac.uk.

Follow-up on termly Mass

People may like to read the reports appearing about our termly Mass on the Hermenutic of Constinuity and What does the prayer really say. James Bradley, who put up photographs of the Mass on his flickr account, got over 1000 hits on his Newman page today!

Termly Mass and Dinner MT09

The Abbot of Downside, The Rt. Rev. Dom Aidan Bellenger OSB, visited the society yesterday to celebrate its termly Mass. The Mass took place in Corpus Christi (College!) and we were treated to a wonderful rendition of Haydn's Little Organ Mass, complete with strings. James Bradley has put up some photographs on flickr, a few of which can be seen below. Click here for the rest.

Following Mass the termly black-tie dinner was held in Pembroke. The Abbot is a Cambridge man and in his after-dinner speech he humorously reminded members not to forget that both Cambridge and Cardinal Manning (who was famously hostile to Newman) are very important.  Emeric Monfront then paid tribute to the President, Jocky McLean, who has organised a wonderful term.

New Officers

Hubert MacGreevy (Peter's) is to be next term’s President. James Jordan Jalili (Hilda's) and Tim Sherwin (Merton) have been co-opted as Junior Officers.

Termly General Meeting

The Termly General Meeting for Michaelmas Term 2009 will be held after Dr. Sheridan Gilley's talk on Tuesday 24th November.  The Society's Constitution contains full details about the function of the TGM.  Any members wishing to propose items for the agenda should contact the President: newman@herald.ox.ac.uk.

Change of time for Thomas More Lecture

The Thomas More Lecture at which Bishop John Arnold and Evan Harris MP will debate the place of religion in the British 'constitution' will now take place at 8.30pm on Monday 30th November, and not 5pm, as previously advertised.

Termly Dinner

Deacon Jack Sullivan visits Oxford

Deacon Jack Sullivan, who was cured of a debilitating spinal condition through the intercession of Cardinal Newman, is currently visiting Oxford.  The Vatican's recognition of this miracle on 3rd July 2009 has paved the way for Newman's beatification, which is expected to take place in Birmingham next year.  The press has suggested that the beatification ceremony may coincide with the anticipated visit of the Holy Father to England.

Tonight Mr. Sullivan attended a dinner held in his honour at Newman's former college, Trinity College.  The dinner was hosted by the college's President, Sir Ivor Roberts, and was held in the presence of HRH Princess Michael of Kent, who spoke of her admiration for Cardinal Newman.

Tomorrow, Mr. Sullivan will visit Oriel College, the college at which Newman held his Fellowship.  On Saturday he will preach at the Oxford Oratory.

Thomas More Lectures - Press Release

The Society has put out a Press Release for the forthcomign debate between Bishop John Arnold and Evan Harris MP.  The debate, which is part of the 2009 series of Thomas More Lectures, will examine the role of religion in public life.

Growing Up in the Catholic Church

Fr Roger Dawson SJ, Assistant Chaplain to Oxford University, recently spoke to the society on the subject of 'Growing Up in the Catholic Church'. In his talk Fr. Roger drew on his experience as a pscychologist to examine the challanges and possibilities involved in living as a young Catholic today. 

Click here for a transcript of the talk.

A reply to Professor Dawkins

The first Speaker Meeting of term got off to a cracking start with around fifty people packing the Blue Room to hear Fr. Thomas Crean OP speak on the subject of ‘Incoherencies of Atheism’. Fr. Crean is an Oxford alumnus and is well know for his stance against Prof. Dawkin’s celebrated book ‘The God Delusion’. In his talk Fr. Crean identified a number of philosophical inconsistencies in modern atheistic thought.  Belief in God, he said, provides us with the answer.  Those wishing to find out more should read his book ‘A Catholic Replies to Professor Dawkins’, which is available from Family Publications.  Some of Fr. Crean's sermons can be read here.

Among those attending the talk it was good to meet two old friends of the society, Fr. Marcus Holden and Fr. Andrew Pinsent, the co-authors of the Catholic Truth Society’s excellent catechetical project ‘Evangelium’. Fr. Marcus is a Past-President of the Newman Society (the picture from his term as President hangs in the Chaplaincy’s Meeting Room) who is now serving as a curate in the Southwark diocese. Fr. Andrew, another old member of the society, has recently taken up a position as Research Fellow at the Ian Ramsey Centre for Religion and Science at Oxford University.

Bishop John Arnold to debate with Dr Evan Harris MP on 'Religion in the Public Square'

THE THOMAS MORE LECTURES 2009

The third of the Newman Society's inaugural series of Thomas More Lectures will take the form of a symposium in which Evan Harris MP and Bishop John Arnold will debate the place of Christianity in the British Constitution. The event will take place at Oxford's Catholic Chaplaincy at 5pm on Monday 30th November 2009 (Eighth Week).  [NB the time has now changed to 8.30pm]

The Right Reverend John Arnold is an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. He is is a graduate of Oxford University and practiced as a barrister before training for the priesthood. He is chairman of the Oxford and Cambridge Catholic Education Board.

Dr. Evan Harris is Oxford’s local Member of Parliament and a prominent member of the Liberal Democrat Party. Also a graduate of Oxford University, he practiced as a Doctor of Medicine before entering Parliament. In 2009 he was awarded the ‘Secularist of the Year’ award in recognition of his role in the abolition of the common law offence of Blasphemous Libel.

The inaugural series of Thomas More Lectures is focused on the theme of 'Religion in the public square'. The two previous lecturers in the series were Cardinal George Pell (Archbishop of Sydney) and His Excellency Francis Campbell (HM Ambassador to the Holy See). The 2010 Thomas More Lectures will examine the theme of 'Science and Religion'.

HRH The Duchess of Kent becomes Patron

The Newman Society is delighted announce that HRH The Duchess of Kent has kindly agreed to become a Patron of the Society. Her Royal Highness visited the society in Hilary Term 2008 as part of its 130th anniversary celebrations.