British Cardinal
Newman's last and final request is being overturned by
the Catholic Church in its bid to lift him to
sainthood, reports British newspaper The
Daily Telegraph .
Newman, who died
in 1890, requested and was granted burial alongside his
close friend Ambrose St. John. There has been much
speculation about the nature of the relationship
between the two priests.
Though Cardinal
Newman was a lifelong celibate and many scholars argue
that his love for his fellow priest was merely platonic,
this move by the Catholic Church to move his remains
has fueled speculation that they are embarrassed by
the close nature of the friendship between the two men.
The church claims the move is in preparation for his
beatification, the third stage of recognition of
sainthood.
Cardinal Newman
set up the Catholic University of Ireland, which is now
the University College Dublin. He was a pillar of the Oxford
Movement, which tried to bring the Anglican Church
back to its Roman Catholic roots. After this failed,
he converted to Roman Catholicism. (The Advocate)