The First Thomas More Lecture ·
Presented by Patrick Reilly, President, The Cardinal Newman Society
A liberal arts institution, Patrick Reilly explained, must be grounded upon the principles of Revelation. “A true liberal arts academy can only be Catholic,’ he said, “and a truly Catholic university must be a liberal arts institution.” Society is well served by schools that prepare students for careers and the professions, he went on, but liberal arts learning has been the reason for the ascendancy of Western culture historically. Now, it must be its defender. This kind of knowledge and insight is that which is most necessary in the very difficult circumstances and challenges of our present times.
Introducing Mr. Reilly during the benefit dinner, CNLAP president Dr. Ron Muller thanked those who have recently contributed to the Newman College project and pointed out how, at every phase of development, Newman has been blessed with the resources necessary for promoting its task of study and learning. In the future, he explained, he saw how Newman will become a center of learning where the excitement of ideas is paramount. He recalled the gospel account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and how they commented to themselves “Were our hearts not burning,” after Jesus explained to them the meaning of the Messiah, the crucifixion, revelation, and the world itself. Newman College aspires to the same degree of excellence in thinking, understanding, investigation, learning, discovery, witness—and excitement about ideas—he said. Newman will be very good at what Pope Benedict XVI has aptly expressed as the study of the art of authentic human living.
