And in fact, in my opinion the author used the term "new" not to suggest Baldwin was a new Christian, but instead to make a point about how Baldwin had a real faith before, but now was on some "new religious" kick that the author hopes to "save" him from by reminding him of the "true faith" of the Catholic church.
BTW, here is an interesting interview Baldwin gave. You can see in here some of what might prompt a Catholic writer like this one to chide Baldwin on his "new faith":
Stephen Baldwin: I'm going to be a bit of a jerk to make a point. Now you're doing that dance that most people do. And I was at the same place that you are. "I'm a good guy." And even the Roman Catholic Church, nowhere in the bible does it say you can pray to Mary. Prayer is a form of worship and the Lord said that you will have no other God before me. Now look at all of the problems you're seeing in the Roman Catholic Church. Now, am I saying that's God's wrath? That's not for me to decide or even make a statement about. I can't judge that. I'm just little schmuck, Stephen Baldwin. God says that there is only one way and I didn't believe that, myself, until I tried it and his spirit came into my life and into my heart, and confirmed that the Jesus Christ truth was real.
And here is a 700-club interview:
Baldwin: Sure. Raised Roman Catholic up until 11 or 12, didn’t stick. Went out into the world and did my own thing. But you have to understand at the time, I was functioning in Hollywood. All kinds of different things, perspectives, lifestyles, perceptions, [and] to me this was just okay. This is the new kooky housekeeper. OK, what’s next? What do we do now? How about a reality show?I hadn't known that his wife was a Christian before he was....
Baldwin: September 11th kind of freaked me out. I said, “Hey, what’s this all about? My wife’s a Jesus freak. Maybe it’s time I begin thinking about this faith thing.” Pursued it, became born again, accepted the Lord, baptized in water.
You wrote:
“On the other hand, his whole family was raised Catholic. His “committed christian” life was largely a breakaway from the Catholic faith. So if the author believes the Catholic faith was correct, he actually has been a believer most of his life.”
Incorrect. It is clear from what all the Baldwin brothers have said that the faith played essentially no part in their lives besides the barest of formalism when they were young.
“And in fact, in my opinion the author used the term “new” not to suggest Baldwin was a new Christian, but instead to make a point about how Baldwin had a real faith before, but now was on some “new religious” kick that the author hopes to “save” him from by reminding him of the “true faith” of the Catholic church.”
No. The very first line of the letter is this: “Praise God, you have become a strong voice in winning souls for Jesus as one who has experienced the saving grace of the Redeemer.”
Clearly Claveau neither dismisses Baldwin’s recently discovered religious faith nor cheapens it in any way.
“BTW, here is an interesting interview Baldwin gave. You can see in here some of what might prompt a Catholic writer like this one to chide Baldwin on his “new faith”:”
I’m sure that Baldwin’s ignorance regarding orthodox Christianity is definitely one of the reasons Claveau wrote to him.
And by the way, the interview you posted merely proves me right:
Baldwin: Sure. Raised Roman Catholic up until 11 or 12, didn’t stick.
Clearly he was at best a nominal Catholic and nothing in particular after age 12 until he his religious experience at age 35.
“I hadn’t known that his wife was a Christian before he was.”
He credits her in many interviews with showing him the way towards faith.