Posted on 12/14/2011 10:41:59 AM PST by Alex Murphy
Amid the hubbub surrounding the Gingrich surge, this is one question that has perplexed commentators of all religious and political persuasions. There’s no consensus about where to find the Catholic in Newt.
At this point, the question is not where it is exactly, but where to begin looking.
So, let’s review speculation about the Catholicity of Newt Gingrich. I’ll also advance my own hypothesis and give it a professorial flourish by using a suitably big word.
Hypothesis number one: The new Catholic Newt is simply being American.
Playfully characterizing Gingrich as a “religious flip-flopper” draws attention to how Gingrich, like many other Americans, has seemingly changed his religion to suit prevailing fashion. Perhaps there’s also an ironic part to this interpretation in that Gingrich has supposedly made use of the religious market place to embrace a religion that would take umbrage if treated as a “commodity.”
It might be reasonable enough to see Gingrich’s Catholicity as a kind of epiphenomenon reflecting American cultural propensities--after all, Newt is indeed American. But conversion as “flip-flop” seems to preclude understanding conversion as a turn toward something; it’s not just a lurching back and forth from one view to another. It also makes the Catholic in Newt hard to locate.
Hypothesis number two: Professor Newton Leroy Gingrich has recognized Catholicism’s intellectual appeal.
Reading oneself into Catholicism has a long and venerable history. For some generations, it was Karl Adam’s The Spirit of Catholicism or Ronald Knox’s The Belief of Catholics that opened up a new intellectual vista. For later generations, it was Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain or Malcolm Muggeridge’s Something Beautiful for God that made Catholic spirituality accessible and real.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Hypothesis number one: The new Catholic Newt is simply being American.
Hypothesis number two: Professor Newton Leroy Gingrich has recognized Catholicism’s intellectual appeal.
Hypothesis number three: Former Speaker Gingrich has found Catholic ammunition for the culture wars.
Hypothesis four: Newt loves Catholic style.
"Mrs. Gingrich #2 was dumped after her husband had carried on an extramarital affair with a fetching, blond congressional staffer named Callista Bisek, who went on to become the present Mrs. Gingrich #3. This Family Values paradigm was complicated by the fact that whilst Mr. Gingrich was filibustering Ms. Bisek over the Speaker’s desk, he was simultaneously leading the impeachment charge against a naughty president of the United States....The much-married Newt Gingrich converts to Catholicism this weekend—and I’d pay a year’s salary to have been a bug on the wall during his religious instruction."
-- Christopher Buckley, from the thread The Audacity of Poping
Atheists from WaPo commenting about Catholicism.
There’s a laugh-riot.
What kind of Catholic is:
Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Joe Biden, Teddy Kennedy and the other Kennedys, Richard Daley and so many others.
Or, what kind of Christian is Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright.
The faith of Republicans and Conservatives is always questioned. Democrats are always given a free pass.
It is as simple as that.
In the conduct of his personal life, Mitt Romney is much more of a Catholic than Newt.
I am not a Newt fan but I have heard him address this issue before, particularly the serial womanizing which appears to be a weakness of many powerful men. I am also a Catholic convert and can say with certainty that Catholic theology does not deal with human imperfection as a circumstance of simply being “born again.” For that reason alone, I would imagine that had you been “a bug on the wall” during his religious instruction, you might have well refrained from the judgment you now seem so willing to make about Gingrich and his religion.
Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Joe Biden, Teddy Kennedy and the other Kennedys, Richard Daley and so many others.
Or, what kind of Christian is Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright.
The faith of Republicans and Conservatives is always questioned. Democrats are always given a free pass.
You might have missed these ones:
A Troubling Question About Obama's Religion: Is He a Covert Catholic?
Obama's Devotion to the Virgin Mary: Who Knew?
Is Obama Thinking Like a Catholic?
A rather convenient one.
Newt is a Catholic? I guess he does have a flaw after all.
a very slanted article from the Wash compost.
Move on folks.
Gee, I must have missed all the articles that were critical of the faith and character of other politicians.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seriously?
Well click here.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/*/index
This site is full of articles slamming Mitt and Mormonism. Can’t miss ‘em.
Same kind as Kerry.
Are you the arbiter of Newt’s private life? I thought that was God’s job.
Or was your comment simply sarcasm?
What kind of Catholic is Newt Gingrich? Fair enough. How about:
What kind of Communist is Obama?
Did you hear this part?
Since his conversion, what I have seen from him is grotesque chutzpah as he has denied his despicable treatment of his ex-wife and even tried to paint serial adultery as a consequence of his intense love of country.“There’s no question that at times in my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard, and that things happened in my life that were not appropriate.”For the sake of argument, let’s completely check our brains at the door and believe this disgusting excuse for his double treason toward his family. What conclusion should we draw from it? My conclusion is, “For the sake of his soul, never let this man near power again just as I would never reassign a pedophile priest to work with children again.” But according to Newt, the solution to the corrupting effects of power that, by his own admission, led to his downfall is to make him the most powerful man on earth........I remember the Gingrich conservatives who said of the phonily contrite Bill Clinton, “If a man will lie to and betray his own wife, why should you think he will tell the truth to his constituents?”
-- excerpted from Mark Shea's 11/24 blog entry titled Why I Will No More Vote for Gingrich Than Obama
“[Newt] has seemingly changed his religion to suit prevailing fashion”
What fashion is that?
Being Catholic instantly puts a huge target on your back, especially in the media and here on FR though it is by far the largest religious affiliation.
Newt Gingrich on Catholicism and JPII
Why Newt Gingrich Converted to Catholicism
Exclusive: Newt Gingrich Opens Up on Catholic Conversion and Embracing 'Overt Christianity'
Newt Gingrich on his conversion to Catholicism
Gingrich Keeps Quiet on Catholic Conversion (received into Church over the past weekend)
Exclusive: Newt Gingrich conversion details; plans release of JP2 documentary
Gingrich to Become Catholic During Easter Season
The Newt Evangelization: Gingrich to become Catholic
You missed one:
....when he spoke on Dobson's radio show in 2007, Gingrich refused to say that he was actually repentant. The evangelical leader repeatedly pressed him on that point: "When I hear you talk about this dark side of your life...you didn't mention repentance. Do you understand that word repentance?"
-- from the thread Newt and Evangelicals: Not a Match Made in Heaven
I'm not all that interested in Newt's conversion other than what he claims. I've seen Prots convert because their fiance could not marry a non Catholic. Maybe wife #3 wouldn't marry him without conversion. Maybe he had a "road to Damascus" experience, who knows. He at least attends church. Would we rather have a Mormon that attends every time the doors open? How about Mosque? Would we still be so pious to want the Muslim candidate to attend Mosque? Newt says he is a Catholic, so what are we going to do, put him on the rack to question him? I see many every day that claim Catholicism and you would never know it. There is no fruit. Catholics such as Pelosi, Kennedy, Biden, or Kerry. Is Newt a worse Catholic than Pelosi that went to Rome and said abortion isn't settled in the Church after a visit with the pope?
Allowing an atheist to decide if Newt is Catholic enough, is pretty foolish, IMHO.
Instead of wasting time testing Newt, why not find out where Obama got his college money, or what his connection to Rezko is, or how close was he to Blago, or did he attend church the weekend Farahkhan was honored and preached from the Qur'an?
Romney, Bachmann, Palin, Santorum and other Republicans have been attacked for their faith. Democrats get a free pass.
Tell that to Christ at the moment of your death. You won’t be happy with his answer, BTW.
Hypothesis number one: The new Catholic Newt is simply being American.
A flip-flop to please his most current wife.
Who said you were going to hell?
Try not to bring up strawmen. Try reading the Catechism on the subject. “Proddies” are imperfectly linked to the Church.
Teddy Kennedy is the dead kind. RIP but lol!
The first article on Obama criticizes anyone who says Obama is a Muslim. The second article praises the Obama’s and repeats without question Michelle Obama’s statement that Barack supposedly carries around a holy card everywhere he goes. The third article praises Obama and says he “thinks like a Catholic”. This could not be more false, and is clearly a public relations article trying to get Catholics to vote for Obama.
None of the articles question the character or faith of Obama and/or Rev Wright.
My point stands.
Newt is an unsaved man that uses religion for his own purposes.. I do not think he was ever really a baptist except around election time..
He has no fruit to to demonstrate his salvation ..his spiritual fruit has always been demonstrated as rotten ..
Newt converted this time for his wife.. that is a common experience for the unsaved.. they want to please the religious wife (that was having an affair for years with a married man)
To the unsaved all the tradition and pomp make them actually feel holy...
So what kind of a catholic is newt ?An unsaved one like most of the others going to church with him ..
“What kind of Catholic is Newt Gingrich?
A rather convenient one.”
I kind of agree with you. I would, however, like to know if Newt is allowed to receive Communion. He became a Catholic after his divorces. Do they not count now? I know too many Catholics who are divorced and cannot receive. Just curious about the before and after Catholic.
You brought up hell and ascribed a belief to another group that is not an accurate representation of that group’s belief.
Who’s the bigot?
For the record, it’s not my place to judge individuals. All I can say is that some Protestants may indeed receive enough grace for salvation. It wouldn’t bother me if they did.
That’s not to say that their beliefs are without error.
Doubt it. Converts are usually devout. Could be wrong in this case.
P.S. Check out post 33 if you want to see people being bigoted and judging the souls of others wholesale.
Dear Vice President Vellaccio,
I am most upset by an article published in today's Washington Post by one Mathew N. Schmalz who claims to be a "Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross ". The article, which may be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/what-kind-of-catholic-is-newt-gingrich/2011/12/14/gIQAvKC2tO_blog.html is the most cynical, un-Christian, bigoted piece of writing I can imagine, It beggars belief that such an article could be written by a person who, apparently, holds a position of responsibility at a Jesuit institution of higher learning.
It is, of course, Mr. Schmalz's right to publish whatever he likes. However, his use of credentials from Holy Cross cast a very bad light on the College, for which I previously had had great respect. If this is the sort of politically biased, cynical attitude being adopted by your faculty, I wonder at how you can refer to yourself as a Catholic Institution at all!
I hope you will publically disavow these comments and prevent further damage to Holy Cross by insisting, in the future, Mr. Schmalz not rely on his connection with Holy Cross as a credential in his personal writing.
His email is: fvellacc@holycross.edu
Just wow....
For all the speculation and criticism on and about the lack of works in the lives of the non-Catholics on this RF simply because we don't talk about it and NOW someone is saying a person's private life is none of any one else's business but God's?
Or does it only count when it's someone associated with Catholicism and everyone else is fair game?
I am choosing to answer your post by saying, “I did not ping those other people and do not wish to talk with them.” The habit of pinging your like-member comrades is irksome to me.
Have a blessed day and Good-bye.
Bingo
What authority do you have to say that Newt is unsaved. God will supply that answer, not you.
VERY nicely stated. A good email.
Ping a person when you talk about them.
Mitt Romney is a Morman. Michelle Bachmann is a Lutheran. Sarah Palin was baptized a Catholic. Around the age of twelve her family and her converted to an Assembly of God Church in Wasilla Alaska. She now describes herself as a nondenominational Christian. Rick Santorum is a Catholic.
Newt Gingrich was a Baptist and converted to Catholicism.
I don't know what you mean.
This is the first article I have read by Mr. Schmalz. It will probably also be the last.
It is beyond my imagination that this was written by a professor at a Jesuit institution - it shows none of the intellectual rigor or honesty I assocaite with the Jesuit tradition. Instead, it reads as a typical liberal "hit piece" on a political enemy.
That this author seemingly could not even bring himself to consider the possibility that Mr. Gingrich has sought to reform himself and has embraced Catholicism as the path by which he can again embrace Jesus Christ is stunning. The Catholic tradition is not one of vengence - it rests on the humble admission that we are all fallable human beings and acheive a state of grace solely through repentence of our sins and a reliance on God's mercy.
In addition, the author ignores the 600 lb gorilla in the room - abortion. The Catholic Church has never wavered in its belief in the sanctity of human life. The Catholic Church still embraces such out-of-fashion notions as the idea that marriage is a joining of one man and one woman. Period. End of sentence.
It is not hard for me to believe that a person of traditional moral values might choose to embrace the Catholic Church and its teachings.
What the truth is, only Mr. Gingrich and God know. But this author's refusal to even consider the possibility that Mr. Gingrich's conversion to Catholicism is motivated by genuine conviction reveals the political agenda he seeks to conceal in his nominally religious-based writing.
As stated on an internet site: "The beauty of Catholicism is that while Christ calls us to holiness, he is also merciful. Christ can forgive every sin that we throw at him! It is our hope that all Catholics are accepting of repentant sinners within their midst, and that they do not judge anybody's past mistakes. Sadly, since the Church is made up of imperfect humans, some parishes may not be as welcoming as they should be. "
Apparently and regretably some members of Jesuit faculties must be included in that last statement.
Great letter. Let us know if you receive any results about it.
A saved man would NEVER convert to Catholicism..the saved flee Rome
God will supply that answer, not you.
Newt may yet come to Christ in faith by the grace of God.. but as of now we just have the words of scripture to make this assertion..
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.( or WIVES)
So do you think Newt is saved?
Catholics do and have.
Try not to bring up strawmen. Try reading the Catechism on the subject. “Proddies” are imperfectly linked to the Church.
Fine.....
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM
846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?335 Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.336
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra_Ecclesiam_nulla_salus
Pope Boniface VIII, Bull Unam sanctam (1302): "We are compelled in virtue of our faith to believe and maintain that there is only one holy Catholic Church, and that one is apostolic. This we firmly believe and profess without qualification. Outside this Church there is no salvation and no remission of sins, the Spouse in the Canticle proclaiming: 'One is my dove, my perfect one. One is she of her mother, the chosen of her that bore her' (Canticle of Canticles 6:8); which represents the one mystical body whose head is Christ, of Christ indeed, as God. And in this, 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism' (Ephesians 4:5). Certainly Noah had one ark at the time of the flood, prefiguring one Church which perfect to one cubit having one ruler and guide, namely Noah, outside of which we read all living things were destroyed… We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff."
Pope Sylvester II, Profession of Faith, June AD 991: "I believe that in Baptism all sins are forgiven, that one which was committed originally as much as those which are voluntarily committed, and I profess that outside the Catholic Church no one is saved."
Pope Innocent III (1198–1216), Profession of Faith prescribed for the Waldensians: "With our hearts we believe and with our lips we confess but one Church, not that of the heretics, but the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church, outside which we believe that no one is saved" (Denzinger 792).
And there's plenty more quotes from many popes which couldn't make it clearer. It's a recurring theme throughout the history of Catholicism.
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