John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

EDM number 1325 in 1989-90, proposed by Peter Hardy on 23/07/1990.

That this House, in his centenary year, places on record its appreciation of the life of Newman - one of the finest English prose writers, a poet, educationalist, gentle controversialist, Anglican don, leader of the the Oxford Movement and Cardinal yet always an evangelist; and notes that apart from his immense theological output and vast correspondence, he founded two religious houses and a public school and became rector of a university; recognises that as a result of the Dublin University experiment he laid down, with great precision of thought and power of language in the Idea of a University what still remains the classic statement of a case for liberal education; acknowledges that through him, some distinctively English thoughts and ideas, not least the primacy of conscience before authority and all else, have gained a universal circulation; considers that his inspiration promoted the agenda of the Second Vatican Council; agrees that 'until his death, widely as most of his countrymen differed from his religious opinions, there was probably no living man in whose unswerving rectitude they more entirely believed, or for whom they entertained a greater reverence;' remembers that of his 90 years, he spent 45 an Anglican and 45 a Catholic and that in his Apologia Pro Vita Sua, with its candour and sensitivity, he brought the two Churches closer and that he remains a kindly light amid the perplexities of modern life; and believes that Cardinal Newman is uniquely qualified to become the first ecumenical saint.

This motion has been ammended, see 404A1.

This motion has been signed by a total of 34 MPs.