Personally, I don't find it odd that Newt is spending a lot of time talking to evangelical Protestants. That segment of the electorate seems much more interested in a GOP politician's social and faith-based qualities than a Catholic audience does. And I'm quite sure your fellow parishoner converts aren't running for POTUS.
Lastly, I also had the opportunity to meet Newt and Callista personally in February, 2011 at a screening of Nine Days That Changed The World. They could not have been more gracious, humble or approachable and Newt's address could not have been a better articulation of the combination of faith and politics in America. And that was (and is) a thoroughly Catholic audience.
If the demographics showed that Iowa was 65% evangelical protestants and 4% Catholic, I wouldn't find it odd at all, either. You go where the votes are. But according to the studies of Iowa's population, it's about EQUAL numbers of evangelical protestants about Catholics in Iowa -- 25% each. Yet we have about 10 threads on FR about Newt kissing up to evangelical voters about his faith and zero threads about him making a pitch to Catholic voters. The only conclusion I can draw from this campaign "strategy" is that Newt feels he's entitled to the Catholic vote by default simply because he calls himself a Catholic now. I haven't seen stories about Rick Santorum spending all his time kissing up to evangelicals and ignoring members of his own church. And the reverse is true... Rick Perry talks about his "Christian" faith alot and a non-denominational prayer breakfast in Texas. I'd find it very strange if spent all his time focusing on discussing his "Christian faith" with Catholics and ignored every protestant event .
>> And I'm quite sure your fellow parishoner converts aren't running for POTUS. <<
Which was my point to begin with. Is he going around talking about his "come to Jesus" story with evangelical protestants because he is geninuely moved and wants to share his experience with others, or because he's a politician and wants to get votes and sell books? My guess is it's the latter.
>> They could not have been more gracious, humble or approachable <<
Evidently you and I met a different Newt. The one I met was in Ames, Iowa at a grassroots event where had his "American Solutions" tent set up to meet and greet GOP faithful. Every Republican politician in Iowa that day was more than happy to shake voter's hands and talk to them for free, EXCEPT Newt. In order to even get in line to meet him, you had sign up for his "American Solutions" email. I waited in line for 20 mins. to meet Newt, and when I got to the front of the line I told him it was great to finally meet the man responsible for the Republican revolution. He ignored my comments and focused on people who wanted to buy my books, then turned back to me and said "Sure pal, that's nice. Can you do me a favor? Look in the camera so we can take the photo together. Thanks", then turned back to his handlers. (again, keep in mind this was an outdoor grassroots "meet and greet" GOP event to meet the citizens, not a $500 a plate private fundraiser). Everyone in line was treated rudely by Newt and his staff. Two weeks later, I got a thumbnail copy of the photo of me & Newt together emailed to me, and was informed by "American Solutions" that I could purchase a full size version for the low, low, special price of only $25. This was immediately followed by his "American Solutions" people bombarding with me phone calls begging me for money over the next five months after I repeatedly told them that based on Newt's behavior at the fairgrounds, I would never vote for him for dog catcher or send him a cent. But after telling them this directly, they continued to call me even after I sent Newt's organization a cease and deist letter after 4 months. They only finally quit a month later when I threatened to record the phone conversation.
I know I'm not the only one who experienced this side of Newt because another freeper told me that Newt treated him similarly after a speech and booking signing in Ohio. Another freeper tells me he remembers Newt in the early 80s (back he was a baptist) playing up hiw "Christian family values" and "good relationship with Jesus Christ" back then.
So I can't tell you what's really in Newt's heart, but going by the Newt Gingrich I encountered, I wouldn't trust him if he told me the sun will come up tomorrow. Newt was talking about Presidential run back in 2008, too. Before the Iowa event, I was on the fence about whether I'd ever vote for him. After seeing how Newt treated his "fans" that day, he can forget about ever getting my vote in the primary.