tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213316015209503694.post1276546078066373312..comments2024-01-22T01:52:37.473-06:00Comments on RENEGADE TRADS: Newman's ModelA Sinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05083094677310915678noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213316015209503694.post-71237927816142310572010-04-15T07:32:23.369-05:002010-04-15T07:32:23.369-05:00Thank you for posting this. I have always had ambi...Thank you for posting this. I have always had ambivalent thoughts about Newman. In particular, I think his development of doctrine ideas border on theological Hegelianism (“all that is real is rational, all that is rational is real”, etc.) And quite frankly, I have a “love/hate” relationship with clericalism. I don’t think that Newman’s idea of priestly formation as highlighted in this article is very realistic. The Catholic priesthood will always be a lonely life. I was a seminarian and lived for prolonged periods in religious houses, so I can vouch for that. However, I do think that priests need to live in a communal life, as the priests of the SSPX do. That usually prevents a lot of shenanigans, but not all. But it is also not realistic considering the declining number of priests.<br /><br />Nevertheless, I think that Newman’s other ideas, on the primacy of conscience and his critique of centralized Roman bureaucracy, are under-appreciated. Indeed, Newman did have a bad reputation with people at home and abroad. I don’t think Cardinal Manning was too fond of him, for example. Some thought that he was a residual Protestant, and suspected that he would backslide into the C of E at some point. But his toast to conscience first and his muted opposition to the definition of Papal infallibility appeal to me greatly. I do feel, however, that in our context, such things only lead to the bland secularized agnosticism that we see everywhere both inside and outside the Church. “Loyal opposition” is thus no longer possible; those who would toast to conscience first would barely sign on the dotted line to such doctrines as the Virgin Birth and the Trinity. (Maybe Newman’s “development of doctrine” has something to do with this.) That, I feel, is why religious discourse has become so partisan that it is borderline ridiculous. Either you are with the Pope 100% or you are no better than an agnostic or a heathen. I carry on, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com