The Idea of a University, Indeed

Although it is just possible that it might have appeared somewhere today, repeated attempts to secure the publication of this have failed, despite the first signatory (sometimes it’s not what you know):

Dear Sir,

As Oriel College, Oxford considers taking down its statue of Cecil Rhodes, we respectfully submit that that plinth ought to be filled by a statue Oriel’s very finest, Saint John Henry Newman, holding a copy of his epoch-making book, The Idea of a University.

Yours faithfully, 

Fr Raniero Cantalamessa OFMCap, Preacher to the Papal Household, the only man allowed to preach to the Pope

Fr Lawrence Lew OP, Promoter General of the Holy Rosary

David Lindsay, Lanchester, County Durham