Jennifer Newsome Martin, John J. Cavanaugh Associate Professor of the Humanities and director of the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, was a member of the committee of scholars that petitioned the Vatican to raise St. John Henry Newman to the rank of Doctor of the Church. In October 2025, Pope Leo XIV elevated St. John Henry Newman to the honor, recognizing his personal sanctity and influential contribution to Catholic theology and doctrine. In this presentation, Professor Martin will speak about Newman’s eminent teaching, particularly with respect to the development of doctrine, conscience, the operation of human reason, the nature of tradition, liberal education, and the role of the laity in the Church.

Watch the presentation here:

This talk was presented at Alumni Reunion 2026.