Cardinal Newman at 2000

A Review of Fr. McCloskey's TV Series

by Catharine M. Ryan, National Institute for Newman Studies

This series is a compilation of thirteen different discussions, each about one-half hour long, between various well-known Newman scholars and the host of the series, Fr. C. John McCloskey, who is the Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, and a priest of the Prelature Opus Dei.

The format of each segment shows Fr. McCloskey seated in a small library-like room with the particular guest seated opposite him. The overall ambience is a cross between an interview and a conversation. Each of the thirteen segments in the series is devoted to a specific topic based on Newman's life or thought. Fr. McCloskey begins each program with a specific question inviting the Newman expert to explore the topic further. The host asks various other related questions and occasionally, but not often, interjects a comment himself.

The invited guests are Ian Ker, Richard Schiefen, Richard Liddy, Ray Ryland, George Rutler, Drew Morgan, John Crosby, and Thomas Dillon. The topics covered are: Newman's Life as a Catholic, the Laity, Development of Doctrine, Newman the Writer, the Saint, Influence on Vatican II, the Friend, Newman on Conversion, the Oratorian, the Oxford Movement, the Preacher, Belief as Philosopher, and the University.

Each guest scholar has significant educational credentials and offers a particular expertise in the subject assigned to him. The amount or quality of information offered is, in general, good for each of the topics. There is, however, an unevenness of substance and delivery. For example, Ian Ker gives a wealth of information and conveys it with ease. On the other hand, one or two other speakers stumble as they speak or, on occasion, tend to ramble or to digress from the topic. When that happens, McCloskey, to his credit, does a good job of re-focusing the discussion with a new question and gets the conversation back on track. For those viewers who already possess some knowledge of Newman, this series of tapes can serve two purposes: to provide a "refresher course" in a rather comfortable and easy manner, and to offer some nuggets of information or insight that might be new to the viewer. For example, Ian Ker provides some fascinating commentary on Newman as a writer which was particularly illuminating to this reviewer.

For those who watch the series with little or no prior knowledge of Newman's life and work, the thirteen topics certainly give a fine introductory overview to the man, his life, and his influence. In the opinion of this reviewer, there is probably too much information to absorb in such a concentrated period of time. A novice in the field of Newman studies would most likely need to have some of the content explained to him or her and would then be best advised to watch and listen to the tapes carefully several more times. It is "a lot to swallow" all at once, even though both McCloskey and the guests make a genuine effort to give background material and contextualize the topic.

A few flaws are evident in the program. All the guests are male, and all but two are priests. Some perspective from a few of the many female Newman scholars would have enhanced the series. As previously mentioned, a few speakers rambled off-topic, but this is not a major problem in the series overall. Another aspect this reviewer found to be problematic occurs in the last segment on Newman entitled "The University." The first half of that discussion concerns itself with Newman's thoughts and writings in concurrence with his founding of a Catholic university in Ireland. However, the last half amounts to a rather pointedly biased conversation critiquing many of today's United States Catholic universities and promoting St. Thomas Aquinas College of which the guest, Dr.Thomas Dillon, is president. After the previous twelve segments had been consistent in relating the particular topic directly to Newman, this last portion seems out of place.

Aside from these flaws, it is a marvelous gift to have an illustrious group of Newman scholars cover thirteen topics in 6.5 hours. Perhaps the greatest strength of the series is that both the host and every one of the guest speakers conveys a real love of Newman. Each one speaks with enthusiasm about Newman as a person, his ideas, and his positive influence on Christianity. Even if a viewer were to grasp only one quarter or one third of the content of each segment, that same viewer would surely be intrigued by the devotion and admiration expressed. This, I believe, would motivate the viewer to learn more about Newman. If this were to be the case, the series Cardinal Newman at 2000 will have accomplished its mission.