What kind of Catholic is Newt Gingrich?

Washington Post ^ | 12/14/2011 | Mathew N. Schmalz

[Alex Murphy]

Amid the hubbub surrounding the Gingrich surge, this is one question that has perplexed commentators of all religious and political persuasions. There’s no consensus about where to find the Catholic in Newt.

At this point, the question is not where it is exactly, but where to begin looking.

So, let’s review speculation about the Catholicity of Newt Gingrich. I’ll also advance my own hypothesis and give it a professorial flourish by using a suitably big word.

Hypothesis number one: The new Catholic Newt is simply being American.

Playfully characterizing Gingrich as a “religious flip-flopper” draws attention to how Gingrich, like many other Americans, has seemingly changed his religion to suit prevailing fashion. Perhaps there’s also an ironic part to this interpretation in that Gingrich has supposedly made use of the religious market place to embrace a religion that would take umbrage if treated as a “commodity.”

It might be reasonable enough to see Gingrich’s Catholicity as a kind of epiphenomenon reflecting American cultural propensities--after all, Newt is indeed American. But conversion as “flip-flop” seems to preclude understanding conversion as a turn toward something; it’s not just a lurching back and forth from one view to another. It also makes the Catholic in Newt hard to locate.

Hypothesis number two: Professor Newton Leroy Gingrich has recognized Catholicism’s intellectual appeal.

Reading oneself into Catholicism has a long and venerable history. For some generations, it was Karl Adam’s The Spirit of Catholicism or Ronald Knox’s The Belief of Catholics that opened up a new intellectual vista. For later generations, it was Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain or Malcolm Muggeridge’s Something Beautiful for God that made Catholic spirituality accessible and real.

[FryingPan101]

“Even Romney isn’t as bad as Obambi”

I agree with everything you said. There is no choice but to vote for the nominee whoever that may be. I’m praying the country will see the real Rick Perry and rally behind him. His policies and abilities to implement are strong. If he doesn’t cross the finish line first, I’ll support whoever without a second thought given to religion. I have never considered a “whose religion is best” battle to be part of this.

[Responsibility2nd]

OK, so you DON’T need the Pope?

You are raving, pal. Quit while you’re behind.

[Cronos]

believe “in Jesus Christ as Lord, God and Savior, ... Part of the ONE triune God...” But I REJECT that I’m “connected to us” .. So. Am I “damned”?

you are not damned in our beliefs. you may say you aren't connected or not, that's your choice, but you are connected to us in the belief that "Jesus Christ as Lord, God and Savior, ... Part of the ONE triune God...”

[Cronos]

r2 Please show me where I said "you believe in this" (whatever "this" means).

your post 22 -- I guess us xx are all going to Hell, huh? and Sd said it's not true.

instead of saying "ok", your post 32 called us "religious bigots" -- really? when we say that your statement about our beliefs is false?

you acknowledge that your posts were making up false statements now?

[Cronos]

"That pal - is condescending." --> and your Church of Christ belief that Are there devout Christians in denominations? No. is not condescending?

[Cronos]

Ha ha, another straw man. your post repeated one lie. When you are told that that was a lie, your second post twists it further.

why does your Church of Christ say that he CoC is the one True Church. Do you believe that as a member of the CoC?

[Cronos]

I have never considered a “whose religion is best” battle to be part of this.

And I'm sure most of our freepers believe that. however we have a dedicated bunch of folks here on FR who want to tell us Catholics that we are 1. damned and 2. since we're damned we should ALL vote for their dimocrats

[Responsibility2nd]

See how simple this is? YOU make a bigoted comment. I call you on it. You re-phrase it and omit the offending comment.

Thank you.

Now. Before you post (again) 5 replies to one comment - and before you ping half the thread - let me make one simple phrase about what the Church of Christ believes:

We are Christian only. But not the only Christians.

Let me repeat that for you:

We are Christian only. But not the only Christians.

Now. You can reply to this comment 5-6 times if you so desire. Be sure to ping out all the Catholics you know. Whatever.

Just please - stop insulting other faiths and stop demeaning your own religion with these rants of yours.

[Cronos]

your post 22 is a bigoted comment where your post said -- I guess us xx are all going to Hell, huh? and Sd said it's not true.

instead of saying "ok", your post 32 called us "religious bigots" -- really? when we say that your statement about our beliefs is false?

you acknowledge that your posts were making up false statements now?

[Cronos]

why does your group, the Church of Christ say that has restored the New Testament church—"the ancient order." All other groups are in error, lost, and apostate. ?

isn't your "church of Christ" bigoted? why do you CoC damns all Christians?

[Cronos]

why does your group, the Church of Christ say here on their websites -- go to bulletin articles then "Are there devout Christians in denominations" and we see that your religious group, the Church of Christ says

Sadly, many in our brotherhood would answer “yes” to this question.

Are there devout Christians in denominations? No.

Your religious group, the Church of Christ clearly calls all Protestants as not devout Christians -- why?

[Cronos]

why does your group, the Church of Christ reject the Creeds and yet say that what a person must do to be saved—"obey the gospel"—which starts with the formula "Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and Be Baptized." when other Christians like esquirette's Presbyterians etc would say that the gospel is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

why does your religious group put it's own spin on the Gospel?

[Cronos]

Isn't it true that your denomination, the Church of Christ says that God's grace and the righteousness of Christ may be nice to have, but are not necessary for salvation because one can save himself by obedience?

[Cronos]

YOU make a bigoted comment. I call you on it. -- first and foremost, I did not make any comment -- you first replied to Salvation. If you had asked her to clarify she would have said the same thing I did -- by no means would we say that you members of the Church of Christ (which incidently ALSO calls itself the one true church) are damned just because you belong to that -- neither for that matter are Jehovah's Witnesses etc. damned purely due to membership. People walk open-eyed into their damnation by rejecting Christ

[Cronos]

Responsibility2nd's comments:

1. I halfway expected some bigoted Catholic to show up
2. I guess us xx are all going to Hell, huh?
3. You Catholics are religous bigots.
4. As soon as you Catholics get off your high horse

And then you say

Responsibility: stop insulting other faiths and stop demeaning your own religion with these rants of yours

interesting -- don't you see your very comments as being rants?

[Responsibility2nd]

Now. You can reply to this comment 5-6 times if you so desire. Be sure to ping out all the Catholics you know. Whatever.

 

 

 

See Reply 149.

See Reply 150.

See Reply 151.

See Reply 152

See Reply 154

See Reply 155.

 

Do you always do EVERYTHING you're told to do? Look I am jerking your chain. I'm having a ball at your expense. And none of your "friends" are piling on here, so I'll ping them too. In fact I'll post this reply 6 times too.

 

That'll show how SERIOUS I am.

 

lolol