Why was John Henry Newman viewed with suspicion by some Roman Catholic clergy?

St. John Henry Newman faced suspicion from segments of the Roman Catholic clergy primarily because he was perceived to possess a "quasi-liberal spirit" carried over from his Anglican background. Although he was not a liberal in the conventional sense, his intellectual approach and advocacy for critical scholarship often clashed with more rigorous or conservative figures, such as H.E. Manning.12

Specific factors contributing to this distrust included:

• Editorial Work: His role as editor of the Rambler and his support for Lord Acton’s efforts to promote critical scholarship among Catholics caused significant friction.2
• Theological Controversy: An article he wrote, "On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine," was reported to Rome under suspicion of heresy.2
• Institutional Opposition: His attempts to establish a Catholic hostel at Oxford were actively blocked by Manning.2
• Papal Infallibility: In 1870, Newman expressed opposition to the definition of papal infallibility, which further alienated those who favored a more rigid ecclesiastical stance.1