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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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McNamara31 | Apr 29, 2011, 09:25 AM EDT

Karl Rove was the original political strategist who “used” the Evangelical vote to elect George W. Bush. His strategy worked so well it became the textbook for all future political campaigns in the GOP. Newt knew the only way he could have a chance at being seen as a "credible" candidate was to convert and in a sense be born again, and play the forgiveness card. I do not judge him however anyone who has followed politics for the past two decades has witnessed politicians pandering to people of faith just to be elected. A prime example was right after their husbands were out of office Mrs. Bush 1, and 2 came out and said they were strongly pro choice. Something that is not negotiable to the conservative voters, so it was never mentioned while their husbands were in office. Their opinions didn’t change they both stated they always felt that way. This country was founded on separation of church and state because all knew the mass manipulation that could and has occurred in the hands of opportunist politicians using religion to get elected.

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Woodman | Apr 28, 2011, 10:34 PM EDT

That aid has never married, and believes the Clinton ask her to marry her? I think Clinton actually said "don't talk with your mouth full." Unless I got it backward Pittsburghkid,I think it's the guy who gets ion his knees for the marriage proposal, not the gal.

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Woodman | Apr 28, 2011, 10:30 PM EDT

He did all this nasty stuff before he became a Catholic, so he gets a free pass. Now that he's hooked up with Jesus all his sins are forgiven.

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Gearoid4 | Apr 28, 2011, 09:47 PM EDT

The last comment below sums it all up eloquently concerning the continuous stream of opinion pieces on IC masquerading as news denigrating both the GOP and the Catholic Church.

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Gearoid4 | Apr 28, 2011, 09:39 PM EDT

Does anybody at Irish Central just report the news like a journalist or are you all columnists with opinions. Good columnists deliver their opinions through wit and clever writing, but Irish Central just let's everybody bitch about those dang Republicans and Catholics. Boring Niall!

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Pittsburghkid | Apr 28, 2011, 09:20 PM EDT

Obama cancelled the National Day of Prayer. Gingrich is allowed to divorce according to his religion. Gingrich is not a Catholic. It would be improper for a Catholic to set in judgement over a Protestant. It would be the same as a Catholic Priest condemning Clinton for sexually abusing young aid. That aid has never married, and believes the Clinton ask her to marry her.

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Gearoid4 | Apr 28, 2011, 08:20 PM EDT

Isn't it good to see the benevolence and goodwill generated by so many below to those who profess a religious belief and hold forgiveness(along with acknowledgment of sins committed) as a golden rule? If only we were all so perfect, then there would be no need of pardon or mercy. @feduprish, virtue exists with vice in our world. The human face of the Church exhibits that and it has been so since the first generation of the apostles. The Church is always in need of the redemption of Christ to purge and reinvigorate it.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 28, 2011, 06:39 PM EDT

Thank God I am an atheist,I do not have to cloud my mind with the sanctimonious hypocrites (the church and gingrich0 and the sanctimonious hypocrites writing below.Gingrich is a bottom dweller.

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clonmel21 | Apr 28, 2011, 04:27 PM EDT

Mother Church? Good Grief! Is that like Mother Earth?

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fedupirish | Apr 28, 2011, 03:33 PM EDT

So nice to see many erudite comments! Newt Gingrich and today's Catholic Church, hypocrisy at its finest!!! Newt, anything for a vote. I'll change my opinion on any subject at any time, whatever is popular. Way to go Newt! The current Catholic Church, the hierarchy at least, Bernard Law a fine example(he no longer deserves the title of Cardinal), keep moving the predators around, maybe no one will notice. This is not the church I grew up with, a once proud and venerable institution. There are many great priests out there, but church leaders? Morality, both Newt and the church are hypocrites!

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terrypat | Apr 28, 2011, 02:13 PM EDT

Mother Church has had the same problem for about 20 centuries. And the problem is how to eradicate sin from the rank and file. Top and bottom. Left and right. Good luck!

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Gearoid4 | Apr 28, 2011, 02:11 PM EDT

Forgiveness is the hallmark of a real Christian. Whether Converts or 'cradle' Catholics, we all have need of the Saving Grace of Christ. The Church was not just designed for the piously good, but for the lost sheep as well. Christ stated that there is more joy in Heaven for the one sinner who repents than for the 99 who who are have no need to do so. Thus all the so called 'recovering' Catholics and those who are standing in judgement should take heed of that.

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clonmel21 | Apr 28, 2011, 01:54 PM EDT

To terrypat; I don't have to "deal" with you, you have to deal with yourself. To McNamara31 How nice the church was packed this Easter, but where are they the rest of the year. They are called C&E churchgoers; Christmas & Easter they show up. ugh

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McNamara31 | Apr 28, 2011, 01:44 PM EDT

This past Easter my local church was packed out the doors mainly because of the undying faith of people who continue to practice their faith "in spite” of a hierarchy that has lost its way on so many fronts. Hopefully the next Pope will properly clean house and put the church back on a tract of spiritual integrity before more churches and schools shutter the doors.

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terrypat | Apr 28, 2011, 01:41 PM EDT

Hey hey, I've just realized that if I say anything true about Ted Kennedy that I must suffer Ted's sins? NOT! My own are enough. Please bear this in mind while dealing with me.

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