Posted on 03/31/2009 12:01:32 PM PDT by NYer
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich converted to Roman Catholicism over the weekend at St. Joseph's Church in Washington, D.C. So far, Gingrich has been conspicuously quiet about his conversion. He didn't mention it in an interview with me earlier this month that focused on his stepped-up efforts to organize religious conservatives and promote religious liberty issues.
An enthusiastic Twitterer, the former speaker has gone tweetless since Saturday. Best I can tell, Newt's one recent mention of Catholicism was a tweet last Tuesday about President Obama's forthcoming appearance at Notre Dame: "It is sad to see notre dame invite president obama to give the commencement address Since his policies are so anti catholic values."
I checked with his media team, which says that Newt is declining interview requests about his conversion for now but that he may open up later in the year.
I am jumping in here and perhaps this has already been answered. First of all, a prior valid marriage must exist, in order to prevent conversion.
Newt’s first wife passed away several years ago, and Mary Ann, his second wife, married him while the first wife was still alive, so his second marriage would not be considered valid in the eyes of the Church.
I realize to those outside the Church this seems pretty legalistic, but those are the rules and the way they would be interpreted.
Any marriage — not just marriage contracted as Catholic — will have to be annuled by the Catholic Church, but who was and who wasn’t Catholic at that time is indeed an important factor.
Annulment is by no means automatic consequence of divorce.
If Newt does not obtain an annulment, his only option is to separate from his present wife and live celibate life.
There has been a speculation that his first marriage can probably be annuled on the grounds that he was very young and substantially younger than his wife. His second marriage would be null because it was not first. Should that be the case, he is free to convalidate his present marriage in the Church.
It’s you who were asserting something, Professor.
You seem incapable of maintaining a coherent dialogue. From now on, I’ll make a point of discounting your statements, as following a rational line appears to be too much for you.
Ah, right. So the first marriage does not have to be annuled because of the spouse passing on, and the second was null due to the prior bond existing at the time.
Hi, I think the other poster is asking if you have any documentation that Princess Diana actually had a Catholic funeral. If I’ve interpreted this incorrectly, I apologize in advance to both you and the other poster.
LOL. Great story.
It is NONE of his business where Newt attends church, NONE!
I guarantee you he didn’t ‘cover’ Obama’s racist pastor & church!
Verifiable source, please.
Newt’s conversion—could that be why there was all that thunder and light reported all along the East Coast last weekend??????
Incorrect. Palin was baptized as a Catholic but raised as a Pentacostal after her parents left the Church shortly after her birth, long before her 20s. She was re-baptized as a Pentacostal at the age of 13.
I’ll forgive your error of not spelling God’s name correctly.
Welcome Home Newt!
Welcome Home, Mr. Speaker!
Romulus, if you want me to verify something please restate what you want me to verify because, believe it or not, I may have three or four conversations going at the same time with different people.
As for Princess Di, I actually saw film footage of her Catholic funeral on TV. She had the Catholic funeral the day before the public spectacle of all those people crying over the death of a fluffy pretty girl who married up and who’s only redeeming action was to convert to Catholicism - no offense intended.
Now, Romulus, is there anything else on your mind? I’m always here to help and, as always, I mean no offense to anyone.
No disrespect, but I don't think you did. You may have seen a Mass offered for the repose of her soul; it would be entirely routine for the Church to do so for a distinguished non-Catholic.
AND Dr. Bernard Nathanson and Norma McCorvey and Randall Terry and Maureen Reagan and Frank Meyer (original managing editor of National Review) and Scott Hahn and Gerry Matatics (although he is said to have later gotten himself in trouble) and Bob Novak and Robert Welch and his wife and Avery Cardinal Dulles and......
In my parish, four are coming into the Church, all women this Easter vigil. Three are canidates, one will be baptized. Plus also I think sometimes a parish if it does not have an RCIA program, will send people who are interested in coming into the Church to a parish which has one.
Congrats to Newt and WELCOME HOME!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.