Newt Gingrich describes importance of faith in political decisions

CNA ^ | Oct 29, 2011 | Michelle Bauman

[markomalley]

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said Catholics should pray about the decision of whom to support for public office and then vote according to their consciences.

Gingrich, a convert who entered the Catholic Church in 2009, is running for the Republican presidential nomination.

Gingrich told CNA on Oct. 24 that he believes the single biggest threat to America today is “the attack against the Judeo-Christian tradition and the effort to drive God out of public life and eliminate the understanding that our rights come from our Creator.”

The former speaker explained that he was motivated to run for president by the current political situation in America.

“The United States faces the most serious election since 1860,” he said.

“Our challenges are so great and the consequence of choosing American exceptionalism or class warfare and bureaucratic socialism is so large that as a citizen I felt compelled to run.”

Gingrich explained that his faith would influence his political decisions as president.

“Any leader should seek God's guidance,” he said. “The teachings of the Church inform my thinking about solving earthly problems.”

Gingrich said that he would “listen” to the concerns of those who feel threatened by his views and values.

“In many cases better communications and clarification will eliminate their worries,” he said.

“In some cases they are right to feel threatened because we have incompatible values and fundamentally different visions of the future.”

As speaker of the House, Gingrich had a strongly pro-life voting record.

In his race for GOP presidential candidate, he has signed the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life Presidential Leadership Pledge.

The pledge asks candidates to commit to nominating federal judges who are dedicated to “applying the original meaning of the Constitution;” selecting “only pro-life appointees for relevant Cabinet and Executive Branch positions;” supporting legislation to “permanently end all taxpayer funding of abortion;” and working toward a law “to protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain from abortion.”

Gingrich has also expressed support for efforts to defend marriage.

“I helped author the Defense of Marriage Act which the Obama administration should be protecting in court,” he said in a Republican primary debate in Manchester, N.H. on June 13, 2011.

“I think if that fails, you have no choice except a constitutional amendment.”

Gingrich told CNA that Catholic voters who are trying to pick a candidate to support in the upcoming election should pray about their decision and “take seriously the responsibility of citizenship.”

“Pray for America and for our leaders,” he said. “Then vote as your conscience instructs you.”

“If possible become an activist helping America regain its sense of purpose and direction.”

[Gaffer]

While I’d not put it in the exact same context, I’d certainly say Newt would be better than Perry.

[cripplecreek]

I am sure sure you do not mean to imply that we should identify a conservative position and then insist that scientists conform to it.

That is the way of the Inquisition of Galileo.

Wow, that was desperate and more than just a little moronic.

[Gaffer]

I know these arguments and there is some reason to them. However, I think many people who "dabble" in the intellectualism of Newt, wholly overlook his implementation, mainly train-wrecked by his personal choices.

Lecturing the Conservative collective about morals, faith, or even the good-government practice of living within your means whilst floating a $500K jewelry bill, or taking a Med Cruise while delaying your campaign doesn't speak fiscal conservatism to me at all. While he is often great as a thinker and policy wonk (on some things), he's not shown me anything beyond the original Contract with America and a checkered Speakership.

[nathanbedford]

As to my response about global warming and Nancy Pelosi, please see my reply #19.

I did not mean to suggest that that Romney is the only alternative candidate to Newt Gingrich, although polls still have them in the lead in key states-I think the race is between Cain and Newt Gingrich. I didn't mean to suggest that there is not necessarily a direct correlation between personal morality, for example marital fidelity, and the greater good for the greater number, in this case 40 million babies.

As to immigration: I remember Gingrich's stinging denunciation of Bush's amnesty plan and I believe he has been sound on immigration all along. Indeed, I remember being excoriated for a vanity I posted blaming Bush for the deplorable lack of enforcement on the border. Gingrich certainly does not share Perry's lack of clarity on this issue and I think Romney has once again flipped when he should've stayed flopped or vice versa. Herman Cain had to climb down off his own electrified fence but I will grant that he is probably sound on the issue as he is on most issues. I don't think any true conservative would find much to quarrel with in Gingrich's enforcement of the law concerning enforcement of employment of illegals.

I believe that moral indignation has its place as does the exploration of the candidate's character and political philosophy. It was the absence of this examination respecting Barack Obama that got us into the mess we are in. I find, however, that some posters, present company excepted, are reflexively posting half-truths concerning Gingrich which might lead the uninformed into misconstruing Gingrich's record.

[nathanbedford]

How so?

[cripplecreek]

Then there's this crap about coming together to save the world from global warming. (at taxpayer expense of course)

[aruanan]

And funny, isn’t it, that ten years before they filmed this spot (2008) global warming had already stopped some ten years before (1998) and a decline set in about three years after that (2001) and it’s been cooling ever since?

[Puddleglum]

I concur with some others here: Newt is starting to look good. I will watch the next debates more closely to see if I can see some sort of change of spirit in him, some humility or something. To me, a conversion to Catholicism is a big thing - has he discussed it anyplace?

[normy]

Jesus came to call the sinners not the righteous, right?

I have heard Perry called a fake christian and now Newt is also a fake because of past transgressions?

I have been reading Decision Points by GWB and he really lays out his life before understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ and redemption.

He also makes a great point that he never would be the man he is if it wasn't for his 1st 40 years living the way he lived. I believe the next man elected will not save America but God will put the man in place who will do his will and America will be saved because God desires it.

God can use Newt or Perry even Mitt Romney as well as a Preacher and maybe even better because preachers tend to think they have it all figured out anyway.

[MNJohnnie]

The problem with Newt is he has a history of choosing political expediency over Conservative principals.

His jump on the Global Warming train, his trash talking of Paul Ryan and “Right wing Social Engineering” and his chastising Conservatives for not backing Dede Scusafasa in NY 23 are just some recent examples. His history as Speaker is one of accommodating Clinton in order to "get things done".

Then there was the speech he gave last month to the Hispanic Leadership arguing for a "Middle Way" on Immigration. Newt seems to be willing to tell each group what they want to hear in exchange for their votes. What exactly are his leadership principals? They seem to change with each group he talks to.

Newt talks a good game but in the end he will always choose political expediency over Conservative principal

[markomalley]

To me, a conversion to Catholicism is a big thing - has he discussed it anyplace?

Some. He has, over the years, done some interviews with Raymond Arroyo -- mp3's should be available on the EWTN web site's audio liberary. His wife (Callista) is in the choir at the National Shrine in DC. That's how he got to know (and have theological discussions with) Msgr Rossi, the shrine's rector. I remember seeing him at the Masses there for several years prior to his conversion.

I would view his conversion like that of Robert Bork, a few years earlier.

[pepperdog]

“talks a good game”

Don’t they all? We seem to be left with choosing the best of the worst. But any are better then what we have now.

[cripplecreek]

Newt talks a good game but in the end he will always choose political expediency over Conservative principal.

Exactly. No doubt he's a top notch debater but he'll sell us down the river so fast our heads will spin.

[Caipirabob]

Newt Gingrich describes importance of faith in political decisions

Just so long as it's not applicable when his wife is dying of cancer and he decides to dump her because he's boinking a psycho-witch.

[Lady Lucky]

That shortcoming is probably shared by all the rest of the candidates, to some extent. I say “probably” because one of them has no political experience whatsoever for us to judge by...unless you count an endorsement of Mitt Romney, which is a prime example of choosing political expediency over conservative principles.

[Caipirabob]

There are moments that mark the character of a man that identify who he truly is for all to know. Newt betrayed his wife and he's already betrayed conservatives on multiple occasions. Whether it was for politics or personal gain, these are how we know and see Newt today.

He's a tremendously flawed candidate who's known skill at debate is only exceeded by his capacity for deceit.

New Gingrich is our "Bill Clinton", and I will go no further where angels fear to tread with this man.

Newt is a known commodity. I won't dance to this tune again.

In being compelled to further examine the man and his past, I'm less inclined to even consider him as a potential veep as had been discussed many times on this forum.

I don't like what he did as speaker at the end of his term. I don't like what he did to his wife. I don't like his pandering to the left over the decades.

Being placed in a position to decide on his potential as a candidate, I am compelled to state "Character matters".

And Newt doesn't measure up.

[Lady Lucky]

But yes, his conversion to Catholicism doesn’t seem that different from Chuck Colson’s prison conversion to Christianity.

Except Newt was never in prison, where Christianity is the next best thing to a crowbar. You can pry out a lot of privileges and amenities with religion when you're incarcerated. Newt gained no worldly advantages by his conversion. Safe to assume it was sincere.

[9YearLurker]

Newt had a lot of past infidelities and multiple divorces to put behind him. His conversion may have been sincere, but it was also convenient.

[battletank]

That wife “dying of cancer” is alive and well. Never had cancer. And SHE filed for divorce. Might want to stop posting these untruths.

[Caipirabob]

I will go read up on it. I had pulled that info from FR, in truth.