105 - St. John Henry Newman

105 - St. John Henry Newman

Author: Dr Caitlin West December 9, 2025 Duration: 29:11

Cardinal St John Henry Newman is a Catholic saint who lived in the nineteenth century and was canonised in 2019. In November 2025, he was officially declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV. This is a title held by only 38 saints in the entire history of the church, and it is given to those whose writings are of benefit to the whole church.

John Henry Newman was an Anglican priest and Oxford academic who converted to Catholicism and was eventually made a cardinal. He is one of the most significant Catholic figures of the nineteenth century, known for his academic brilliance and his personal holiness.

In today's episode, we discuss the life of this incredible saint.



This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Contact the podcast: ⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

References and further reading/listening/viewing:

The Newman Reader - Works of John Henry Newman

St. John Henry Newman:

The Mission Prayer

"Conscience", from A Letter Addressed to the Duke of Norfolk

The "Biglietto Speech"

Apologia Pro Vita Sua

Philip Boyce, "Newman's Reception into the Catholic church"

Bishop Robert Barron:

Bishop Barron Q&A on St. John Henry Newman’s Life, Theology, and Books

Bishop Barron on St. John Henry Newman: Beyond the Left and the Right

Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church

Dr Scott Hahn on Newman's conversion

Cardinal Newman's Legacy | Scott Hahn w/ Jeff Morrow

St. John Henry Newman: Meeting the Challenges of Modernity

EWTN:

St. John Henry Newman: From Anglican to Saint Cardinal

Focus: The Life and Legacy of John Henry Cardinal Newman

The Life of Saint John Henry Newman: From Anglican Priest to Catholic Saint

Discover the life of St. John Henry Newman to-be Doctor of the Church


For anyone curious about the foundations, traditions, and everyday implications of the Catholic faith, Crash Course Catholicism offers a thoughtful and accessible entry point. Hosted by theologian Dr Caitlin West, this podcast breaks down complex theological concepts, historical context, and Church teachings into clear, manageable conversations. Each fortnightly episode focuses on a specific topic-from the sacraments and scripture to moral philosophy and liturgical practice-providing listeners with a structured yet engaging overview. Dr West’s approach is both scholarly and welcoming, making centuries of tradition feel relevant and comprehensible. Whether you're a lifelong parishioner seeking a refresher, someone exploring spirituality, or simply a person with questions about the world's largest Christian denomination, this series is designed to inform without overwhelming. Tune in for a calm, considered journey through the pillars of Catholic thought, all delivered in short, easy-to-digest segments perfect for a daily commute or quiet moment of reflection. You can find more from Dr Caitlin West and the podcast at her website.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Crash Course Catholicism
Podcast Episodes
45 - The Eighth Commandment: The Media and Art [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." What are the obligations of the news media to the truth? What's the relationship between truth and beauty? Is all art beautiful? In this episode we wrap up our di…
44 - The Eighth Commandment: Lies! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:30
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Is it ever okay to lie? Can gossip be a mortal sin? Is it okay to publicly call someone out for doing the wrong thing? In this episode we continue our discussion…
43 - The Eighth Commandment: Truth! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Is there such thing as objective truth? Is it ALWAYS better to tell the truth? Are there situations where it's better to lie? (Pls excuse the the background cicad…
42 - The Seventh Commandment: Capitalism, Socialism, and Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:09
"You shall not steal." What does a just economic system look like? Is work necessary? Do wealthy nations have an obligation to help poorer ones? This episode covers Part Three, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article Seven of…
41 - The Seventh Commandment: Private property and theft [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:02
"You shall not steal." What actually constitutes stealing? Is anything absolutely my own? How much should I give to others? In this episode, we begin our discussion of the seventh Commandment. This episode covers Part Th…
40 - The Sixth Commandment: Marriage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:04
"Thou shalt not commit adultery." What is the point of marriage? Is divorce a sin? What about contraception, or IVF? In this episode, we wrap up our discussion of the sixth Commandment. This episode covers Part Three, Se…
39 - The Sixth Commandment: Sex and Chastity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:54
"Thou shalt not commit adultery." What is the purpose of sex? Does the Catholic church just have a massive negative hang-up about it? In this episode, we continue our discussion of the sixth Commandment. This episode cov…
38 - The Sixth Commandment: Gender [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:16
"Thou shalt not commit adultery." What does it mean to be a man or a woman? Does difference between men and women mean inequality and sexism? In this episode, we begin our discussion of the sixth commandment. This episod…
37.5 - The Fifth Commandment: War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:38
"You shall not kill." What constitutes a "just war"? Is it permissible to accumulate weapons of mass destruction? In this mini episode, we wrap up our discussion of the fifth Commandment. This episode covers Part Three,…
37 - The Fifth Commandment: Abortion and euthanasia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:52
"You shall not kill." Is abortion ever morally permissible? What about euthanasia? What does the Church teach about people who have committed suicide? In this episode we continue our discussion of the fifth Commandment.…