Doctrine, truth and change: insights from the 2024 Newman Lecture

As our society increasingly embraces relativism, a steadfast commitment to the integrity of Christian doctrine is the only way to achieve true human flourishing, according to distinguished St John Henry Newman scholar Rev Prof Stephen Morgan, who delivered this year’s Newman Lecture at the Australian Catholic University’s St Patrick’s Campus in Melbourne.

Co-sponsored by the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and the University of Notre Dame, the lecture centred on the challenges and necessity of preserving the integrity of Catholic doctrine in a contemporary world that increasingly dismisses religious certainty.

Prof Morgan—described by ACU Vice Chancellor Professor Zlatko Skrbis as ‘arguably one of the world’s foremost authorities on St John Henry Newman’—currently serves as rector at St Joseph’s University in Macau, specialising in theology and Church history. He has authored multiple publications on Newman, including John Henry Newman and the Development of Doctrine (2021).

Prof Morgan opened the lecture with a critique of the increasingly common idea that religious doctrines are merely opinion or culturally contingent ideas, noting that such views have led to a widespread indifference, if not outright hostility, towards religious conviction.

Christianity is built upon definite ideas, principles, doctrines and writings, which were given at the time of its first introduction but have never been superseded and admit of no addition.

Contrasting this with Newman’s approach, Prof Morgan argued that Christianity is unable to provide a meaningful foundation for human life unless it grounds itself in religious truths and doctrines. He pointed out that Newman regarded Christianity not simply as a moral philosophy but as a ‘unique and complete self-revelation’ of God to humanity through Jesus Christ, a conviction that shaped Newman’s life and faith from an early age.

Prof Morgan outlined three primary themes of Newman’s thought: the necessity of dogma, the concept of doctrinal development and the role of the Church in preserving and clarifying its teachings over time.

In the first part of his address, he emphasised Newman’s commitment to Christianity as a ‘dogmatic religion’, highlighting how doctrinal truths are essential for true understanding and practice and explaining that ‘Christianity is built upon definite ideas, principles, doctrines and writings, which were given at the time of its first introduction but have never been superseded and admit of no addition.’

Expanding on the idea of doctrinal development, Prof Morgan stressed that Newman saw doctrine as ‘dynamic, not in the sense of changing its core content, but in how it unfolds over time.’ He compared doctrinal growth to a living organism, evolving to meet new challenges without losing its original identity. This growth, Prof Morgan clarified, is not a matter of reinterpretation or innovation but rather an organic unfolding of existing truths, allowing the Church to respond to historical and cultural shifts while remaining faithful to its core beliefs.

Prof Morgan also drew on Newman’s ‘theory of development’, which sets out seven criteria that authentic doctrinal developments must meet. These principles—such as ‘preservation of type’ and ‘continuity of principles’—ensure that any true development is consistent with the original revelation. For instance, Prof Morgan noted, the Church’s understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity has remained consistent over centuries, despite evolving language and theological nuance.

The lecture also touched on how Newman’s insights can serve as a valuable framework for addressing modern debates within the Church. Prof Morgan acknowledged the need for discernment in interpreting changes within the Church’s doctrine, emphasising that the Church’s teaching authority, or Magisterium, must ensure continuity with the ‘deposit of faith’ given by the Apostles, rather than allowing ‘corruptions’ that could misrepresent the faith.

Time spent looking at ourselves is time not spent looking at God.

Central to Newman’s vision is the role of the Church as the ‘guardian and interpreter of divine revelation’. Prof Morgan argued that this responsibility is especially critical today, given a growing tendency to dismiss religious truths as mere opinions. In a culture that often views religious beliefs as relative, he suggested, Newman’s insistence on doctrine serves as a reminder of the Church’s commitment to transcendent truths that provide meaning and direction beyond temporal shifts.

Prof Morgan concluded his lecture with a reflection on Newman’s enduring legacy and relevance, urging his audience to consider Newman’s perspective on the relationship between faith and reason, and cautioning against a purely rational or scientific approach to understanding religious belief. Instead, he advocated for a balanced view that respects both reason and faith, keeping the focus on God rather than ourselves. Quoting Newman, he pointed out that a focus on self ultimately detracts from a true encounter with the divine, since ‘Time spent looking at ourselves is time not spent looking at God.’

The 2024 Newman Lecture was both a tribute to Newman’s theological legacy and a call for Catholics to remain committed to the principles of their faith in the face of contemporary challenges. Re-examining Newman’s insights on doctrine, development and the authority of the Church, Prof Morgan suggested, will help the faithful to remain anchored in the timeless truths of Christianity and provide a surer path towards genuine human flourishing.