Catholics concerned about the recent administrative actions at Newman Theological College (NTC) in Edmonton are demanding greater transparency from the board of directors and for the school to noticeably reaffirm its fidelity to imparting Catholic doctrine.
Students, alumni and concerned community members expressed hope that a protest outside the 55-year-old school of theology on Oct. 2, which reportedly attracted over 300 demonstrators, and a petition that has amassed over 450 signatures as of Oct. 14 will prove difficult to discount.
The cornerstone issue that mobilized the Renew Newman Theological College effort was the abrupt dismissal of Dr. Ryan Topping — who is not involved in this campaign — just days before fall term classes began on Sept. 4.
Topping, who came to Newman in 2018 after serving at Thomas More College of the Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire, was hired as a full professor of theology and appointed as vice-president and academic dean at the beginning of his tenure. In 2022, he founded and served as the director of Newman’s Benedict XVI Institute for New Evangelization.
A father of 10 children with his wife Anna, Topping also steered the effort to launch a new Bachelor of Arts in Catholic Studies degree in September 2020, the first of its kind in Western Canada.
Brian Holdsworth, a prominent Canadian Catholic speaker, writer and YouTube personality who helped coordinate the petition and protest, told The Catholic Register that he found out about Topping being let go from the man himself. (Topping declined to be interviewed at this time).
“I knew he was struggling with some interpersonal difficulties at the college, but I didn’t think it would actually come to this,” said Holdsworth. “There was some hope that cooler heads would prevail but he called me up one day and shared the news. He knew I was praying for him and was interested in him as a friend, but also in the good of Newman as a stakeholder as a former board member, a member of the Church and someone who was looking forward to having that available to my own children when they come of age.”
Holdsworth said his initial reaction was “anger,” but then he decided it would be prudent to sit with the news for a few days and wait for the school to disclose the reasons for firing Topping.
No detailed explanation has yet been released publicly. The Register sought interviews with the NTC board members and the college’s interim president Dr. Jo-Ann Badley, who assumed this role on July 18, a month following the resignation of long-time president Dr. Jason West. A formal interview was denied, but Andrew Ehrkamp, the communications director for the Archdiocese of Edmonton, issued the following email statement on behalf of the institute.
“All issues between Dr. Topping and Newman Theological College have been fully resolved to the mutual satisfaction of both parties. Out of respect for everyone involved and their privacy, we can’t comment further on any administrative or faculty changes, protest or petition,” the statement reads.
“The Newman Theological College board of directors fully supports Dr. Jo-Ann Badley as interim president. Dr. Badley continues in that role until a search for a new president is completed and the board approves his or her hiring.”
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a recent alumnus of Newman did shed light on some of the observable “tension” at the school of theology.
“There’s tension among faculty members about the direction of Newman,” said the former student. “I think it’s fair to say that even within the Catholic Church, there’s a lot of difference of opinion towards cultural expression and practise of the faith. But also, theological — where is the gray area and where is the black and white area of theology? There’s a lot of room for tension and conflict there. I definitely saw that happening at Newman despite a good experience overall of the theology.”
Another current student who spoke to the Register anonymously suggested “there was often miscommunication between what the students wanted and different faculty versus staff and administration.” This pupil said the tensions “saddened me because of course we want to be one unified Catholic Church and to see a lack of that unity is ultimately a lack of the spirit and the peace that the Spirit of God brings”
The graduate, who noted how “there’s conflict in many workplaces,” said the situation at Newman “really came to a head” in the past several months as the college sought to chart out its future direction. Additionally, the student offered an impression that Badley “is a great administrator” and that “she is caught up in this” situation.
Phoebe Naidu, who attended Newman during the 2023-24 academic year and the first several days of the current term before dropping out mid-September, said she came to Edmonton because Topping and his wife made a persuasive pitch. She said the experience did not disappoint.
“My overall experience was wonderful,” said Naidu. “I loved it. The student life was vibrant. The classes were engaging. And overall, the college was very lively, unlike most big, bigger institutions. I think that a lot of this liveliness had to do with Dr. Topping. (This is) not to say that the other professors didn’t have an impact on me. They surely did.
“But I think that the liveliness of the college was because of Dr. Topping because in his class, he would always remind us to grow in our faith and culture together,” continued Naidu. “He promoted events like Adoremus and Credo. He engaged with the students at lunchtime. He didn’t just care about the growth of the college, but also about us learning and growing spiritually, intellectually. He lived by example and showed us how to integrate our faith into every aspect of our lives.”
Holdsworth said his first time visiting Newman years before Topping’s arrival was to meet with a friend who worked at the college for lunch. Expecting to see the “hallmarks of a typical college campus,” instead “there wasn’t very many people there, and the lights weren’t on in the whole building.” He “got the impression that it wasn’t very active.” This perception lingered during his first years as a board member.
“I was thinking (Newman) could use some renewal, new life and new ideas,” said Holdsworth. “Dr. Topping brought with him just that.”
Naidu did attend the first week of classes following Topping’s departure and she came to the conclusion “that the culture of joy just wasn’t there anymore.”
“I searched for answers,” said Naidu. “I called Dr. Badley and I didn’t get any answers. She just said it was the board’s decision. And that’s all that she really said. She did say that and I didn’t understand how or why the firing of Dr. Topping was for the better of the college. It just, it doesn’t logically follow. And then she also had said to me on the phone call that I should leave Newman because Dr. Topping is no longer here. That took me by surprise and I just, I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.”
Naidu pulled out of the school and weeks later participated in the Oct. 2 protest.
The undergraduate still attending classes agreed with Naidu that “student life is down” compared to last year but “on the greater scope the uncertainty, difficulty and trial is drawing us together.”
All parties who have raised concerns about Newman continue to await a more detailed rationale for Topping’s departure that appears, at least for now, not to be coming. Though the school stated that the issues between Topping and the college have reached a mutually satisfactory conclusion, the Renew Newman Theological College petition does seek “restitution” for the dismissed educator.
The online entreaty also demands the school guarantee the BA in Catholic Studies adheres to Topping’s original vision, for all officials to resign if their vision for the school is “out of touch with the Catholic community in Edmonton” and for greater overall transparency and accountability.
There is particular attention being paid on who will be hired as the next full-time president. Those who spoke to The Catholic Register expressed a desire for a “strong Catholic voice,” and multiple described Badley as a Protestant or Evangelical Christian.
These voices also pondered what the future could look like for The Benedict XVI Institute without Topping. The academic, who received a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, was gaining notice in the year before his departure for his research regarding the state of priestly vocations in Canada. He also orchestrated two high-profile vocations rallies in Calgary and Edmonton earlier in 2024.
