The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture WOF 510: Newman as an Anglican (2 of 12)
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Oct 6, 2025 
In this discussion, Bishop Robert Barron, a prominent Catholic bishop and theologian, dives into John Henry Newman's early life as an Anglican. He explores the Oxford Movement's influences and highlights Newman's critical study of early Church Fathers. The conversation touches on Newman's reaction to Catholicism during a pivotal trip to Europe and the formation of the Oxford Movement alongside Keble and Pusey. Barron also covers the controversy sparked by Newman's Tract 90, which aimed to reinterpret Anglican doctrines, leading to significant backlash and internal conflict.
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Oxford Defined Newman's Formation
- Oxford shaped Newman intellectually and culturally, remaining central even after his conversion.
- His identity as an Oriel man influenced his lifelong outlook and work.
Probability Over Certitude
- Newman embraced probability over philosophical certitude as the practical guide for life.
- This Anglican tradition contrasted sharply with modern quests for absolute certainty.
Patristic Study Became Newman's Touchstone
- Newman deeply studied the Church Fathers in original languages, making them his touchstone.
- That patristic focus later influenced 20th-century ressourcement thinkers and Vatican II.
