Well, New Gingrich is a converted catholic, after his marriage, so it does not apply to him. The rest of the list, not sure about Mel Gibson, are born Catholics.
RE: The rest of the list, not sure about Mel Gibson, are born Catholics.
I believe he is born Catholic. His father is in fact,an outspoken critic, both of the post-Vatican II Roman Catholic Church and of those Traditionalist Catholics, like the Society of Saint Pius X, who reject Sedevacantism.
No!
Newt had to obtain annulments of his prior marriage(s) in order to marry Callista in the Catholic Church.
But if Newt had never become a Catholic, he and Callista would still need an annulment before they could marry in the Catholic Church.
There two are exceptions to this: If a person becomes a Catholic and the existing spouse refuses to live in peace with the convert. I believe this is called the “Pauline privilege.” There’s something called the “Petrine privilege,” but I forget what it is.