To Be Perfect Is to Have Changed Often (Hardcover)

Hardcover. This study approaches John Henry Newmans writings on the church from a fresh perspective by examining the development of Newmans ecclesiological outlook over time. It demonstrates that it can be misleading to refer to Newmans Catholic ecclesiology (singular), because such an approach gives the impression that Newman maintained a stable ecclesiological perspective during his Roman Catholic period. In reality, Newmans outlook on the church underwent significant developments over the last four decades of his life. As a result of various events in his life, including the Rambler affair and his experience of the First Vatican Council, Newman slowly developed an ecclesiological outlook that counterbalanced the authority of the pope and bishops with a robust account of the role of theologians and the lay faithful in the reception and transmission of church doctrine. Whether consciously or not, Newman left his ecclesiological writings open for further development on the part of theologians who would follow after him. This study traces John Henry Newmans view of the church during the Catholic period of his life. The author argues that Newmans ecclesiological perspective transitioned from emphasizing the authority of the pope and bishops to incorporating active roles for theologians and the lay faithful as a counterbalance to the ruling office of the church. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.…