Christopher Buckley on Newt Gingrich’s Catholic conversion
Christopher Buckley, son of William, takes a non-too-gentle look at Newt Gingrich’s pending change of religion in the Daily Beast:
Brace yourselves for a tsunami of punditry this weekend, when the much-married Newt Gingrich is received into the Catholic Church.
This would ordinarily be a private occasion, but Newt Gingrich is not ordinary. He is (I hedge) probably the most interesting putative candidate person on the Right at this point. Google “Gingrich” and “2012” your hard drive will melt under a trillion hits. So attention to this event must and will be paid.
Buckley goes into some unkind detail about Gingrich’s personal life, but finally strikes on this weird but strangely satisfying assessment of the former House speaker:
His website’s motto—“Real Change Requires Real Change”—seems quite apt to the present occasion, even if it sounds like it was lifted from Peter Sellers’ Chance The Gardener in Being There. Gingrich is a protean fellow—continually evolving and re-inventing himself. He’s like another of his fellow Catholics—Madonna, only, well, different.
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86 comments Add your comment
Joey Porter
March 27th, 2009
9:50 am
Lord have Mercy. The phat phuck want’s to pledge allegiance to the pope after all.
This SOB is so disgusting.
Tired of Politicians
March 27th, 2009
9:53 am
Not even approaches being news, unless your TMZ or people magazine, I see more layoffs in the future.
Fred
March 27th, 2009
10:28 am
Really appreciating the anti-Catholic rhetoric here. It would seem that bigotry and intolerance transcend party lines.
sr citizen dawg
March 27th, 2009
10:42 am
And why is Gingrichs conversion to a different religion any of his business or any of mine ? That comes under the heading of Newt’s business. My gosh, what muckraking !!!!!!!!!
Lynn
March 27th, 2009
10:51 am
What is he converting from?
rightofcenter
March 27th, 2009
10:55 am
To all of you crying “hypocrite” or other pjeratives about Newt, Catholicism, and Christianity in general: the whole concept of the Christian religion is that we are ALL fallen people who are in need of forgiveness. That forgiveness comes through Jesus Christ. Let all who are without sin cast stones (or cast dispersions on Newt)…..crickets….
Lynn
March 27th, 2009
10:58 am
And why is Gingrichs conversion to a different religion any of his business or any of mine ? That comes under the heading of Newt’s business. My gosh, what muckraking !!!!!!!!!
******************
The far right wears their religion on their sleeves. It’s a key part of their politics, that makes it our business.
Chris
March 27th, 2009
11:01 am
All…
Catholicism is not simply another Christian church – it is THE Christian Church founded by Jesus Christ. The actual scripture is as follows: Matthew 16:18 – “You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My Church.”
All other churches that claim to be Christian all splinter from the one, true Church which is the universal/Catholic Church.
It should also be noted that the Church is not a hotel for saints – it is a hospital for sinners!
Edward – you are absolutely wrong. Pol Pot, Hitler, Stalin, Saddam, and their ilk killed more people in the history of the world. You should go back and re-read your history books sir. I am not familiar with the Catholic Church ever killing anyone. Possibly some of Her members, but the Church itself has never killed anyone.
Newt in 2012!
BOOOO YAAAA!
Harris
March 27th, 2009
11:02 am
Newt is a small salamander that lives in water part of the time.
let he who has no sin...
March 27th, 2009
11:12 am
Did anyone else hear the story this morning on WSB that Newt had commented negatively about the President speaking at Notre Dame’s commencement? Something about the church and stem cell policy. Wonderful, now Newt, who has already demonstrated his capacity to destroy our country for personal gain is going to incorporate God in his efforts to be the spokesman of “he who is right”. Maybe becoming a Catholic will help Newt regarding his issues with humility but the present evidence shows his RCIA classes were not very effective.
SuzeyQ
March 27th, 2009
11:18 am
I do not trust Newt Gingrich any further than I could toss him. Fortunately, God loves everyone, and offers us more chances, to get it right. I, however, will remain skeptical of Newt’s plans for our future.
Chris
March 27th, 2009
11:18 am
The problem with NOBama speaking at Notre Dame is that ND is a Catholic University. The invitation to NOBama violates the U.S. bishops’ statement “Catholics in Political Life.”
The statement said that Catholic institutions should not honor those who “act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
It is because of NOBama’s position and his reversal of executive orders that allow tax payer provided abortions here and abroad as well as the funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
Drew
March 27th, 2009
11:28 am
In case you missed it, Obama rescinded the Stem Cell Ban just two days before he signed the Omnibus spending bill… which included the same provisions that have banned that research since 1996. Just another empty suit in the WH.
Stephen
March 27th, 2009
11:34 am
Let’s have Newt and Palin at the top of the GOP ticket in 2012. It doesn’t matter who is at the top of the ticket, because they are both losers. It is time to stop recycling politicians and allow some new people with constructive and futuristic ideas to come to the forefront of our political scene.
I am sick and tired of the hypocrisy of those who always want to tell others what to do and how to do it, while at the same time doing the total opposite in private. Let us all move on to something better and keep Newt in the historical past so that he can keep reliving and touting his Contract with America.
Patrice
March 27th, 2009
11:49 am
Catholics are not one-issue voters – and stem cell research is just one issue. Picking apart the statement by the U.S. bishops and focusing it narrowly on abortion and stem cell research is twisted and inaccurate. And I am an active, practicing Catholic.
MJM
March 27th, 2009
12:00 pm
I am Catholic and lived in Georgia for 40 years ( in NC now unfortunately) and have not experienced any bias. Newt will be fine.
If Keneddy, Pelosi, Biden, etc can receive Holy Communion so can Newt.
His only “crime” is divorce their crime is supporting the murder of millions of unborn children.
Gandalf, the White!
March 27th, 2009
12:06 pm
Yeah Newt! You go. At least you have a real religion, unlike Barry who belongs to an Africa First Church (that’s hate America for the dim witts in the crowd) but is really a muslim.
hem o'roid
March 27th, 2009
12:42 pm
Newt and Obama olaying in the loft, Newt ate all Obama’s dingleberries off.
Zacko
March 27th, 2009
1:03 pm
great comment from a Beast poster:
Well, the Catholic Church has never met a lie or liar it could not love and swear to.
And as for this being anti-Catholicism – the day your church stops being a political party and conducts itself with some humanity and decency – is the day you will start to see less anti-Catholicism.
More damage has been done by the Catholic church than good – period. Sorry we can’t celebrate you for that – if only we had your amazing talent for building a life on lie
Will Jones - Atlanta
March 27th, 2009
1:24 pm
Christopher Buckley retails the sophism: “Anti-Catholicism is the anti-Semitism of the intellectual class.”
in⋅tel⋅lect
1. the power or faculty of the mind by which one knows or understands, as distinguished from that by which one feels and that by which one wills; the understanding; the faculty of thinking and acquiring knowledge.
2. capacity for thinking and acquiring knowledge, esp. of a high or complex order; mental capacity.
3. a particular mind or intelligence, esp. of a high order.
4. a person possessing a great capacity for thought and knowledge.
5. minds collectively, as of a number of persons or the persons themselves.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L intellēctus, equiv. to intelleg(ere) to understand + -tus suffix of v. action; see intelligent
Synonyms:
1. reason, sense, common sense, brains. See mind.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
This is what the Intellect and Prophet who founded the United States of America had to say on the subject:
To Samuel Kercheval
Monticello, January 19, 1810
SIR, — Yours of the 7th instant has been duly received, with the pamphlet inclosed, for which I return you my thanks. Nothing can be more exactly and seriously true than what is there stated; that but a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandising their oppressors in Church and State; that
the purest system of morals ever before preached to man, has been adulterated and sophisticated by artificial constructions, into a mere contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves; that rational men not being able to swallow their impious heresies, in order to force them down their throats, they raise the hue and cry of infidelity, while themselves are the greatest obstacles to the advancement of the real doctrines of Jesus, and do in fact constitute the real Anti-Christ.
Here can be found the inarguable truth that “two popes and the Roman Catholic Church are morally, legally, and ethically culpable of the Holocaust:” “A Moral Reckoning,” Goldhagen.
Mr. Buckley omitted the fact that Newt’s first marriage was a Vietnam draft-dodge. He like all the others of Rome’s Anti-Christ Fifth Column in America are draft-dodging perverts and traitors.
Jeffersonian Exegesis http://theamericanfundament.blogspot.com
The American People must be the alert and energized “intellectual class” to repel Rome’s Fifth Column and expropriate it and its agents, new and old.
Death for Treason
Tolja So
March 27th, 2009
1:57 pm
To Wacko (or was it Zacko?..must’a been whacko): Brutha, you ain’t got no sense! You think the Catholic Church have some politics? Try a good AME or other African church in the South if you want to see politics from de pulpit!
Chris
March 27th, 2009
2:55 pm
Zacko – Your comments do not deserve to even be addressed.
SugarHillDawg
March 27th, 2009
3:11 pm
Hey “I’m an independent”, you’re an independent and I’m the easter bunny! You’re a booger-eating LIBERAL!
Caroll
March 27th, 2009
3:35 pm
Hello Wacko Zacko. Just a little comment about the Catholic Church being perceived as a political party. Let us start with the point of conducting itself with humanity and decency. A good test for humanity would be how a church and it’s members view human life, when it starts (at conception), whether a life can be ended (abortion, including the barbaric practice of partial birth abortion) and euthanasia (mercy killing). The Catholic Church is perfectly clear on its stance, however, there is a broad spectrum of belief pro and con in other Christian faiths. On decency, the Catholic Church ascribes to total adherence to the Ten Commandments. If a Catholic manages to truly live that, they’re living the Faith. BTW, don’t forget the BHO church is VERY political and is a “hate America” church and he was voted our president. I guess that’s OK with you.
Boots
March 27th, 2009
3:47 pm
The question is not which religious flavor his chooses today, but how, with his multiple moral lapses, he continues to be the darling of the religious right. I guess this would fit into the same category as how the religious right can value and make a primary plank of their philosophical platform the preservation of an unborn fetus and be so quick to electrocute or gas a real, live, functioning person.
Howard
March 27th, 2009
3:59 pm
Maybe he just needs a place to confess his sins….in private, cause publicly confessing them didn’t work out so well.
Fr. Bruce Wilkinson
March 30th, 2009
12:05 pm
First Prime Minister Tony Blair becomes a Catholic, and now Newt Gingrich. Just goes to show that the Catholic Church can hold all types of political bed fellows.
Will Jones - Atlanta
March 30th, 2009
10:16 pm
To Samuel Kercheval
Monticello, January 19, 1810
SIR, — Yours of the 7th instant has been duly received, with the pamphlet inclosed, for which I return you my thanks. Nothing can be more exactly and seriously true than what is there stated; that but a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandising their oppressors in Church and State; that
the purest system of morals ever before preached to man, has been adulterated and sophisticated by artificial constructions, into a mere contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves; that rational men not being able to swallow their impious heresies, in order to force them down their throats, they raise the hue and cry of infidelity, while themselves are the greatest obstacles to the advancement of the real doctrines of Jesus, and do in fact constitute the real Anti-Christ. TJ
Gordon
April 14th, 2009
1:53 pm
Well, now Barry O’Bama has converted from the fundamentalist Black power church of Jeremiah Wright to the urbane establishment church across Lafayette Park. No comments?
Ramon
May 4th, 2009
8:39 am
As Catholics, we welcome you,Newt, to this Church made up of sinners and saints. i hope the cynicals reading this site understand this and hope they understand metanoia is a conversion process based upon Faith which is freely given to us by God.Be charitable and give him space. It behooves us to nurture and let it grow to be holy just like Christ is Holy.
Although there are a lot of sinners or as you perceive are hypocrites in the Catholic Church,we know it is always a struggle process in life through Faith, through our Fall/Sin and the gift of repentance
As Catholics, we do know our Faith is based upon the Rock (Petrus or Cephas) upon this Rock ,I build my Church and this has been a belief throughout the Church history, til 11th century and until the 15th century was a held belief by the Western world. Our Church ,the Catholic Church has roots going back to Christ,the Church Fathers etc.Even the Bible itself only came into this Canonical form by the 5th Century.
For us , where else can we go and lay our hope to reach Heaven, than through this historical and divinely ordained Catholic Church.
Dr. Joseph K. Prince, Ph.D. MPH, ASCP.
June 9th, 2009
10:57 am
I congratulate Newt on his entry into the catholic faith. It is heartwarming and consistent with our founding fathers who proudly communicated their faith in God and Jesus to all the world. Their religious faith is discussed and printed throughout all the Federalist Papers and demonstrated their thinking and appreciation of the Creator and his Blessings, called “iinalienable rights”. Their fundamental religious thoughts are present in our laws and are all consistent with the ten commandments which is a great set of guiding principles for living. I laugh at those non believers and wonder, how unfortunate that so many sentientintelligent people are so scared of the teachings of Christ and the blessings and gifts we enjoy from our Creator. Hooray for Newt and His Wife! and God bless America.!!!
Bill
June 9th, 2009
4:49 pm
Does Newt believe the Bible is inspired by God? Matt 16:18 makes reference to the confession of Peter that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. When you read the gospels, Peter is hardly a rock. He denied Christ 3 times. He certainly is an Apostle, Saint and inspired writer, but the bible reads nothing about a Pope. As a matter of fact, this is a man-made teaching…Matt 15:8,9. We are to call no one on earth our father (spiritual), but catholics refer to the pope as the holy father and priests as father…where is the authority for that? Matt 23:9. We should look to God’s word and it only for guidance in our personal and religious lives. II Tim 3:16,17. If we follow man-made teaching, we will worship God in vain (uselessly).
youtree
July 10th, 2009
7:41 pm
for Boots – A fetus is less likely to stab you in the gut and rape your daughter. Society has a right to defend itself, not kill the innocent (being in prison doesn’t always stop a killer from killing – it should but it doesn’t – “Thanks” prisoner rights attorneys)
youtree
July 14th, 2009
12:57 am
Bill – Jesus calls Abraham “father” and Paul calls himself “spiritual father”. Its important to read the bible in context of the rest of the bible. Paul tells Timothy to follow his teachings both writen and spoken (Tradition). God’s word is not only the writen word (Peter).
Bill
July 29th, 2009
10:56 pm
Youtree, Put the catholic relgion in context…the Pope’s word is infallable? That’s what they claim. II Tim 3:16,17 says all that we need is the scriptures…they make us complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. If we’re complete with the scriptures, why would we need spoken traditions? Traditions are not inspired by God. Jesus said we will be judged by his word…John 12:48. If we will be judged by his words, we had better know what they say. Matthew 7:21 indicates that many will call Jesus Lord, but will not enter heaven because they won’t do God’s will. Why? Because following man-made doctrines or “traditions” is deemed acceptable in our religious world. There are many more problems with the Catholic religion than calling the Pope and all other “priests” father. We are born sinful? This goes against clear bible teaching. Mark 16: 15,16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” Is a baby able to believe? Sin is defined as a transgression of God’s law Romans 4:15. How is a baby capable of breaking a law of which he doesn’t comprehend?
Indiana Catholic
July 7th, 2010
5:34 pm
Jim in Georgia said that Catholicism is not a religion, just another Christian church. Jim, you seriously need to go talk to your priest becasue YOU ARE WRONG. The church teaches, and it is laid out in the catechism, that the Catholic church is THE church, not “one among many so go choose what you want.” Get a grip on reality.