Claude Newman

[LSK]

Is anyone familiar with the story of Claude Newman and whether or not it is authentic?

thank you, family.

 

[DavidFilmer]

This is fascinating. I had never heard of Claude Newman until I read your question. So I did some research…

This story of Our Lady acting in the life of a condemned prisoner is all over the internet (and all stories seem to be reprints of the Catholic Family News story from 2001). Even sites like this which are happy to expose the many errors of Medjugorje present favorable reports of the Claude Newman story. I was able to locate some additional chronology of Newman here.

It is usually easy to find opposition opinions by Googling on the appropriate search term and adding the word “hoax” or “false.” For example, “Medjugorje Hoax” returns hundreds of Goggle hits, most of which expose the many errors of Medjugorje. But I cannot find a single source that opposes the Claude Newman apparitions.

I have some concern with the Catholic Family News story because it identifies the priest only as "Father O’Leary, a priest from Mississippi". This instantly raises red flags for me. O’Leary is a common Irish name, and there are lots of Irish priests, so this is not distinctive enough to be credible, IMHO - anyone can make up or embellish a story and include a Father IrishName character to lend credibility. However, Br. Claude Lane, OSB, of the Mount Angel Abbey (in Oregon - not very far from me) was able to provide this site with a much more specific attribution, namely Fr. Robert O’Leary, SVD (1911-1984). I was able to find corroborative information (completely unrelated to this story) about a priest with this same name, timeframe, and location at a webpage which seems to survive only in Google Cache

There is certainly NOT enough evidence to fully support the story, but there is no credible evidence that I can find which would dismiss it either (which, in itself, is amazing, because most false Marian apparitions are easily disproved).

 

[DianJo]

DavidFilmer:

I have some concern with the Catholic Family News story because it identifies the priest only as "Father O’Leary, a priest from Mississippi". This instantly raises red flags for me. O’Leary is a common Irish name, and there are lots of Irish priests, so this is not distinctive enough to be credible, IMHO - anyone can make up or embellish a story and include a Father IrishName character to lend credibility. However, Br. Claude Lane, OSB, of the Mount Angel Abbey (in Oregon - not very far from me) was able to provide this site with a much more specific attribution, namely Fr. Robert O’Leary, SVD (1911-1984). I was able to find corroborative information (completely unrelated to this story) about a priest with this same name, timeframe, and location at a webpage which seems to survive only in Google Cache

Why would you think that just because the priest’s name is Irish being in Mississippi, it couldn’t be credible?
Believe it or not Mississippi is a mission territory of Ireland! At least on the gulf coast where I live, most of priests (and nuns) are Irish! I don’t really think that’s a valid reason to discount the story. We have a (retired, sort of) priest from St. Louis and everybody here thinks HE talks funny!

 

[Ann_Cheryl]

DianJo:

Why would you think that just because the priest’s name is Irish being in Mississippi, it couldn’t be credible?
Believe it or not Mississippi is a mission territory of Ireland! At least on the gulf coast where I live, most of priests (and nuns) are Irish! I don’t really think that’s a valid reason to discount the story. We have a (retired, sort of) priest from St. Louis and everybody here thinks HE talks funny!

I think you misunderstood. It was not that the name was Irish and being in Mississippi but rather it was a common name one that could not be easily verified.

 

[RSiscoe]

LSK:

Is anyone familiar with the story of Claude Newman and whether or not it is authentic?

thank you, family.

I have an old audio tape of the actual priest telling the story. He was the priest that originally metClaud in prison. I also know someone who verified many of the details.

 

[LSK]

DianJo:

Why would you think that just because the priest’s name is Irish being in Mississippi, it couldn’t be credible?
Believe it or not Mississippi is a mission territory of Ireland! At least on the gulf coast where I live, most of priests (and nuns) are Irish! I don’t really think that’s a valid reason to discount the story. We have a (retired, sort of) priest from St. Louis and everybody here thinks HE talks funny!

I did not read the reply like you did - and I am half Irish. I read it as O’Leary is a very common name in Ireland and there are probably tons of Irish-Americans in Mississippi with that last name. It is to Ireland like Smith is to England or Largomarsino is to Italy…a common name. So calm down, read the story and tell me if you think it is authentic or not!

 

[jbeck43]

I have an old audio tape of the actual priest telling the story. He was the priest that originally metClaud in prison. I also know someone who verified many of the details.

Believe it or not, I just ran across this story on the tubes. I sure would like to hear if anyone knows more about it. Fascinating.

 

[startarrant]

I read about Claude Newman in the late 60s either from a magazine like Catholic Girl or Immaculata but it was long before the internet.

I went to see the gkctheatre production here in LA yesterday (10-28-12 Feast of St Jude and the 53 Anniversary of my 1st Penance/Confession) and started searching the web and discovered Claude was working all the reprobate websites (GOoooooooo Claude !) … until I found this sage link on Catholic Answers but I still haven’t found a legit source of the actual story (I will). Do wish someone (besides the Schismatics/Jansenists, Socialist Internationale, and SS [sm sx lavendar mafia] pX et al.) would scan and post as searchable pdf’s all the old Catholic Girl, Immaculata, TRIUMPH, St Anthony’s Messenger in English from Padua not the US rag that goes by the same name) magazines, etc. It would be a real start in archiving and retrieving some excellent Catholic writing on many matters like the life death and story of Claude Newman.

BTW: during the Play intermission, I asked – so others could hear – “wish the Church would find out where Claude is buried and investigate whether his body is incorrupt … as a rule, all those who have seen Our Lady are usually incorrupt.” Everyone within hearing distance agreed that that was an excellent idea and I think also it would be wonderful to get Claude’s canonization going. Perhaps we could get inmates working on Claude’s canonization process in their spare time

 

[mymamamary]

Is anyone familiar with the story of Claude Newman and whether or not it is authentic?

thank you, family.

Very familiar. It is so (name removed by moderator)siring that when I consecrated myself to Our Lady, I had Father bless a big Miraculous Medal, that I always wear. To bed, at school (except underwater), etc. Its like a wedding Ring. A sign of a real special relationship that I have established with Our Mother in Heaven. It is a sign that I am totally her slave and property.

 

[startarrant]

I have an old audio tape of the actual priest telling the story. He was the priest that originally metClaud in prison. I also know someone who verified many of the details.

Could you upload the audio tape to YOU TUBE or email it as an attachment to me? It would be good to get a transcription of that tape along with a LIVE hearing and all the source info regarding the tape.