Posted on 09/12/2018 8:04:19 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
I had heard of the story of a death row inmate who had converted to Christ's Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church after having experienced a Marian apparition but, frankly, you hear about these stories all the time and they turn out to be little more than pious tales rather than historically accurate accounts.
Having spoken with Fr. Malcolm O'Leary, the pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vicksburg, Mississippi, I'm convinced that—though there are some cloudier details—the greater, most important aspects of the story are credible. In other words, there's more truth than myth in the tale and the few discrepancies between versions of the story are barely enough to choke a skeptic.
Born in Stuttgart, Arkansas, Claude Newman (1923-1944) was an illiterate, black sharecropper raised by his grandmother, Ellen Newman, of Bovina, Mississippi.
In 1939, Mrs. Newman married a man named Sid Cook who repeatedly sexually and physically abused her. This angered Claude.
In 1940, at the age of 17, Claude found employment as a farmhand on Ceres Plantation in Bovina, Mississippi and got married.
On Dec. 19, 1942, egged on by his friend Elbert Harris, Claude lay in waiting at Sid Cook’s house. By this time, Sid and Claude's grandmother had separated. As soon as Sid entered his home, Claude shot and killed him, took his money and fled to his mother's house in Arkansas two days later.
In January, 1943, law enforcement captured Claude and returned him to Vicksburg, Mississippi. He confessed to the crime but his lawyer, Harry K. Murray, urged the court to reject his confession as being coerced. Despite this, Claude was found guilty and sentenced to die in the electric chair. An appeal to retry the case was rejected and he was scheduled to be executed on January 20, 1944.
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
I used to be a skeptic. The story of the Miraculous Medal is worth investigating. Countless miracles. “Henceforth ALL GENERATIONS shall call me blessed!” Luke 1:48 “Behold a woman clothed with the sun! “ Apoc. 12:3
What a story!
I have asked Claude for intercession.
I am glad to be called a fool.
Thank you.
There are still problems about some aspects of the account, such as the execution of Hughes; there are newspaper accounts of that and they do not corroborate the details about him having a vision at the chair.
http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2015/07/claude-newman-conversion-story-part-2.html
It would be nice to see Fr. O’Leary’s handwritten account that is mentioned in the article. Claude Newman certainly had a conversion and died a Catholic, but the details need further historical analysis.
The One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ Jesus
, that built western civilization.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
+10 One God
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
+10 Christ Jesus
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
+ 1 Consubstantial with the Father
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
+ 1 For our salvation
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
+ 1 Virgin Birth
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
+10 Suffered, Died and Rose
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
+ 1 Ascended, Seated
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
+10 Come Again in Glory to Judge
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
+10 Holy Trinity
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
+10 One Visible Church
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
+ 1 One Baptism
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
+10 Resurrection of the Dead
The Ten Commandments:
1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God
and Him only shall you serve.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not murder.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10.You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
+10 The Ten Commandments
The Greatest Commandment
1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy
whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength
2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
+ 2 The Greatest Commnadments
The Seven Sacraments Catholic Church:
1. Baptism.
2. Eucharist.
3. Confirmation.
4. Reconciliation.
5. Anointing of the sick.
6. Marriage.(XY+XX)
7. Holy orders.
+ 7 The Seven Sacraments
The Precepts of the Catholic Church:
1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation
and rest from servile labor.
2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the
Easter season.
4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by
the Church.
5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.
+ 5 The Precepts
The seven chief corporal works of mercy:
1. To feed the hungry.
2. To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked.
4. To visit the imprisoned.
5. To shelter the homeless.
6. To visit the sick.
7. To bury the dead.
+ 7 Corporal Works
The seven chief spiritual works of mercy:
1. To admonish the sinner.
2. To instruct the ignorant.
3. To counsel the doubtful.
4. To comfort the sorrowful.
5. To bear wrongs patiently.
6. To forgive all injuries.
7. To pray for the living and the dead.
+ 7 Spiritual Works
Pro-Life - From Conception Until Natural Death
+15 Pro-Life
7
I’m a Protestant Christian who has a personal relationship with Christ and feels it unnecessary to “convert” to becoming a Roman Catholic Christian. I got the biggest chill of my life in reading what Claude revealed to the priest about the priest’s promise. Wow. God speaks to, and through, His children.
“the burden of proof for all of the rest of these events lies upon the skeptic...”
Extraordinary claims are being made and the only basis for them seems to be the word of one priest, and that seemingly only by second hand accounts. Why should a skeptic have the burden of proof?
“Always about the Roman church and demigods. Never about Christ.”™️
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.