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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Shameful that Catholic Church gives Newt Gingrich a platform

Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 04:47 PM

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The three times married Newt Gingrich was guest of honor at the National Catholic Prayer breakfast today, somewhat like Casanova appearing at an abstinence-only luncheon.

The fact that he is divorced, left one wife when she was in a cancer ward and another when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis hardly seemed to bother those Catholic clergy who take such deep umbrage at any attempts to change Catholic orthodoxy.

This is the man who said he had was unfaithful because he was working too hard for America, the man who heartlessly forced the government to shut down so he could force a crisis with Democratic President Bill Clinton.

He talks about "anti-religious values" despite being the perfect embodiment of them himself. After all didn't the Lord list adultery and hypocricy as major sins?

Has Gingrich ever read about the Pharisees?

Has he ever looked at the mote in his own eye?

Has he ever wondered if he is without sin and able to cast so many stones at others?

Of course not.

“The American elites are guided by their desire to emulate the European elites and, as a result, anti-religious values and principles are coming to dominate the academic, news media and judicial class in America,” he said at the breakfast.

So Europe is the bad guy now? Last time I looked they were all democracies, all law abiding states, all secular countries for the very good reason that they know better than to mingle church and state.

Gingrich reminds me of Yeats' line that the 'best lack all convictions while the worst are full of passionate intensity"

Gingrich is certainly the latter.

The Catholic Church should not be embracing this hypocrite.

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51 comments

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MrsMSadler | May 12, 2011, 01:46 PM EDT

I think Mr. Gingrinch has stated that he repented of his sins and was forgiven (i.e., absolved of his sins). Having said that, is it appropriate for him to continue a life of the pursuit of high public office considering his past? No, I don't think it is. What many Catholics don't realize is that they still have to pay penance for the sins they've committed even as they've been forgiven. It's like stealing something. You need to say you're sorry to the victim but you also need to make restitution, either by returning what you've stolen, or by working for or paying for the loss. Mr. Gingrinch still has a lot of penance to pay, and the penance may even need to be public because he was a public sinner.

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CitizenWhy | May 09, 2011, 02:52 PM EDT

Don't forget that the head of Fox News is also a convert to Catholicism. There is a very strong conservative movement in the US to produce an ultra-right political Catholicism that would reject even papal statements on important issues such as immigration, climate change, and the the human right to health care.

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seanomelbourne | May 07, 2011, 02:39 AM EDT

Who cares what silly religion he follows.Porick almost sounds Augustinian "lately have I loved thee Lord " as the aging Augustine wrote(hedging his bets I suppose).

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historynw | May 06, 2011, 11:17 AM EDT

Its apparent that some of the people posting here have no idea the Newt converted to Catholism. While Newt & the Republicans were persecuting Clinton for his dalliances & lying about them, Newt was carrying on an adulterous affair with his now present wife. Repenting & converting are 2 different things.

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seanomelbourne | May 05, 2011, 09:10 PM EDT

He wasn't smart enough to beat Clinton.The Dems decimated the GOP under Gingrich's leadership how smart was that.

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Porickseantuny | May 05, 2011, 10:12 AM EDT

Those passing judgment on the CC and Gingrich seem to have no knowledge of the Church history. Some of the greatest saints led profligate lives before conversion. e.g. St Francis of Assisi, Ignatius Loyola. If anyone thinks Newt is not the intellectual equal of any other politician, then they have never listened to his presentations.

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seanomelbourne | May 04, 2011, 07:55 PM EDT

Gingrich a failed husband and a beaten politician. He got his marching orders years ago and hangs around like a bad smell.

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PhlutiePhan | May 04, 2011, 11:57 AM EDT

I met Mr. Gingrich at a book signing. He is gracious and extremely intelligent and dedicated. However, this is a touchy issue for the Catholic Church and the feminists who are looking for an excuse to destroy a male dominated Church.

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snakehips | May 02, 2011, 02:14 PM EDT

Does the Catholic Church ever take a moment and contemplate why no one comes to the party?

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John G. Hogan | May 01, 2011, 12:49 PM EDT

Just as it was shameful that notre shame gave the # 1 hypocrite 0 a platform.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 30, 2011, 08:10 PM EDT

I walked out on my cancer ridden wife.I walked out on my wife suffering from MS. Gingrich is not fit to be a human being.

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rugbyplayer | Apr 30, 2011, 07:32 AM EDT

The Roman Catholic Church loves celebrity converts like Newt Gingrich despite his dark past. It is good for its relentless propaganda. I am sure that if Lucifer decided to convert he, too, would be most welcome at a Catholic Prayer Breakfast. And let's face it, the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the USA is composed overall of right-wing Republicans. So Newt Gingrich is very much at home with the USA's RC bishops.

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jack112229 | Apr 29, 2011, 12:39 PM EDT

There was a time when Newt Gingrich seemed to be a real scholar. Then he decided to run for the US Presidents office. He then seemed ignorant etc. But, recently, I have noticed the large number running as "ignorant" and not showing their smarts until elected

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DooreyM | Apr 29, 2011, 11:24 AM EDT

Newtie has about 5,000 screws loose. Why does anyone even LISTEN to this bastard anymore?

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bonbon1 | Apr 29, 2011, 09:45 AM EDT

Newt Ginghich has proven over and over again that he is a liar ,cheat , adulter, and scam artist. The Catholic Church has enough problems of its own without looking for more by embracing the likes of Gingrich. The Pope better keep his hand on his wallet when he is near Gingrich.

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