The Cardinal Newman Society mourns the death, celebrates the remarkable life and rejoices in the eternal reward of Avery Cardinal Dulles, the foremost American Catholic theologian of his time, who died today.

Cardinal Dulles, whose lengthy academic career touched on many areas of Catholicism, received The Cardinal Newman Society’s John Henry Newman Award in 2001 in recognition of his work in Catholic higher education. In receiving the award, he delivered an address and called on Catholic colleges and universities to “challenge [secular] universities to defend themselves and to show how they think it possible to cultivate the mind and transmit the fullness of truth if they neglect or marginalize humanistic, philosophical, and theological studies.”

The full address, “Newman’s Idea of a University: Still Relevant to Catholic Higher Education,” has been posted at www.CatholicHigherEd.org.

Patrick J. Reilly, founder and president of The Cardinal Newman Society, said, “Cardinal Dulles was a courtly giant who towered over the theological landscape. We will miss his wise counsel and friendship. Fortunately, his great works will continue to instruct us.”

Two of Cardinal Dulles’ most recent books, Magisterium, Teacher and Guardian of the Faith (2007) and Church and Society: The Laurence J. McGinley Lectures, 1988-2007 (2008), were reviewed in the current issue of The Bulletin of Catholic Higher Education, a publication of the CNS Center for the Study of Catholic Higher Education.

Joseph A. Esposito, the Center’s director and editor of The Bulletin, said, “It was a great privilege to discuss these outstanding works. In particular, Cardinal Dulles’ McGinley lectures offer a faithful perspective on a wide range of issues, including authentic Catholic education.”