Is not Newt’s wife the US Ambassador to the Vatican?
Part of a diplomat’s duties (and spouse’s) are to attend funerals of even people you detest.
He predicted that in 98’ and he was forced out.
I wish he could make some kind of statement. It isn’t about “I detest the deceased,” it’s about a major pedophile enabler getting away with heinous crimes. It’s about evil infiltrating a great religious institution. If you don’t stand for good, what good are you? Newt is powerful enough theoretically to not attend.
As for attending funerals of people you detest...remember that the Clintons and the Gores attended the funeral of Cardinal O’Connor in 2000, although all four probably detested him for being pro-life, among other things...but of course Hillary was running for the Senate and Algore was running for President and they must have figured their presence was good for some votes.