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
J
March 26th, 2009
7:07 pm
How is this news?
brent a.
March 26th, 2009
8:13 pm
Why does the AJC pay this guy to search the internet and post news snippets on this site?
30% staff cuts? I’m looking this direction.
D-Mac
March 26th, 2009
8:24 pm
Hardly a article based on length alone!
Pierce Randall
March 26th, 2009
8:24 pm
There goes his White House hopes. There are too many 1-issue religious voters in the Republican party for that to work.
Although, he might not lose votes were Pat Buchanan to run…
Jo
March 26th, 2009
8:30 pm
Except Madonna is not Catholic. Matter of fact she is publicly anti-Catholic. She adheres to a form of Juduaism (Kabulah?).
Pierce Randall
March 26th, 2009
8:35 pm
How is this not news? What are you all talking about? Newt Gingrich is a very large public figure, if also kinda a jerk. He’s got big political aspirations, and religion plays in to how his message appeals to voting demographics. Will this facilitate the suggested move by Catholics away from part of the Democratic base coalition? Or will this just marginalize Newt among protestants among Republicans? (This probably less likely unless they’re actually asked to think about voting for him.)
Do you need to be told what to think, too, to call a piece news? You’d probably complain about that, too.
david b
March 26th, 2009
8:45 pm
Who cares !? The less we hear of this snake the better we all are.
24
March 26th, 2009
9:33 pm
Pierce, I think you’re reading waaaaaay too much into this.
Dan
March 26th, 2009
10:01 pm
I dont get it? What is he switching to be a militant muslim or devil worshiping? Whats wrong with converting to the Catholic church? Isnt the Catholic Church the church Jesus directly requested Peter to start ( upon this rock build by church)? If he was part of any other Jesus worship faction wouldnt he then be a descent of the Catholic Church and support the King James Bible? A bible that took chapters out of the Catholic Bible to make it better fit their ideals?
BB
March 26th, 2009
10:08 pm
Does it really matter? Newt is nothing other than a hypocritical ideologue. I would imagine that even the choice of his religious affiliation was strategically released to garner the most political capital possible.
This man would sell his own soul for a vote.
He will never get mine. His past history proves that his actions are nothing other than “smoke and mirrors” carefully placed to get exposure.
His 15 minutes are up..
the real OLD GOLD
March 26th, 2009
10:10 pm
I love Newt, but who cares?
yeahwell
March 26th, 2009
10:12 pm
Does he understand he can’t be elected Pope either?
rightofcenter
March 26th, 2009
10:14 pm
BB,
Uh, he hasn’t run for any office in years. He seems to be doing quite well out of office. So this is between him and his God. Your opinion is not relevant.
I'm An Independent
March 26th, 2009
10:36 pm
This amazes me, as most of the Rs think the Catholic church is not “Christian.” Of course, they are totally stupid. But most of the Rs are uneducated and only listen to Hannity and idiots like him. Newt’s multiple (is this 3 or 4?)marriages amaze me that the Rs still accept and want him as a poster child. He is a heathen by all biblical standards. Check it out.
Dave
March 26th, 2009
10:45 pm
Snore . . .
Pete`
March 26th, 2009
11:31 pm
Georgia. That’s the place where the governor took members of the National Guard and invaded a Catholic Trappist monastery because they heard there were cells in the place. People being held against their will and all that nasty stuff. They don’t like Catholics down there so Newt is going to be hated big time. Their state flag should have the words “Home of ignorance’ on it.
Crazy Diamond
March 27th, 2009
12:19 am
Technically, anyone can be elected Pope.
Crazy Diamond
March 27th, 2009
12:22 am
Technically, any baptized Catholic can be elected Pope.
Uncle Sam
March 27th, 2009
12:32 am
It wouldn’t surprise me. These days, what dares to call itself the Catholic Church excepts everyone and everything (i.e: pedophile priest, Nancy Pelosi, Vice-President Biden, ad nauseum). So what will it mean if Newt becomes Catholic? Nothing!
BB
March 27th, 2009
12:40 am
Right of Center @ 1014.
Last year, Newt explored the possibility of a presidential race. Most legitimate media sources consider him one of the frontrunners for the 2012 presidential races. Are you THAT blind to his ambitions? He will NOT rule out a campaign. This past election’s campaign season started sooner than any other presidential election in history. Is there any reason to believe that the next one won’t start any earlier?
Keep dreaming. I believe he has too much baggage to ever be elected, but he still has his ambitions. He also keeps trying to influence policy. I would figure any of his actions are not looking at the present, but rather at 3 years down the road. Your opinion of the present is not relevant. Try to look a little ahead.
You know, the best chess players are 7 or more moves ahead of the current turn. Are you so dense that you refuse to acknowledge the sheer chutzpah of this man still being in the public eye trying to determine policy?
You have the right to your opinions. So do I. I feel my opinion to be relevant. I also won’t be swayed by you superficially dismissing it. Try thinking for yourself for a change.
Tonto
March 27th, 2009
12:41 am
Newt Gingrich is a very brilliant man. Flawed? Yes, but aren’t we all?
Newt Gingrich is no George Bush(thank God). He has ideas that if adopted would really help this country.
For the life of me, I can’t understand why morons like BB(posting here)reject someone that advocates that people(BB included)keep more of their rights and money and aren’t forced to give up control of their lives to big government.
Simply because someone has a (D) or (R) behind their names is the determining factor to morons like BB.
Tonto
March 27th, 2009
1:16 am
Sorry, BB. I just read my post and my ad hominem characterization(moron) of you was unfair and probably not accurate. The sentiment stays, but I withdraw the term. Again, I apologize.
Chuck
March 27th, 2009
1:32 am
Hey Independent, here’s a newsflash for ya… Hannity’s a Catholic too.
S
March 27th, 2009
1:35 am
So Newt wants to become a Catholic…what better place for this hypocrite to place himself. Brilliant, that is a laugh, he’s one of the reasons this Country is in such a mess. Yea, it started way back then with Phil Graham, Delay, and the other moron’s running around now, without a leader, OH wait, I forgot Rush is their leader or is it Palin, I just can’t keep track. No matter, all are self serving hypocrites and oh yes good Christians. Old Newt the toot would probably still be there but of course he just couldn’t help himself with the woman up there in Washington.
Halimaw
March 27th, 2009
2:18 am
He should never be allowed to take Holy Communion, based on his divorce history. He divorced his first wife while she was recuperating in the hospital from cancer surgery. He also divorced his second wife. I know he will be able to get annulments based on technicalities, but it is just plain wrong.
AtlantaWalker
March 27th, 2009
5:03 am
Ok, 1-How is this news? 2-If the AJC would focus on more relevant issues than this, they might not have to eliminate staff.
Joe Biden
March 27th, 2009
6:08 am
This is news? And one wonders why the AJC is having layoffs?
mike
March 27th, 2009
7:02 am
Galloway just wanted to regurgitate the snide remark about Gingrich’s marriages.
Are there any staffers at the AJC who are not partisan liberals?
edge770
March 27th, 2009
7:17 am
I’ve engaged in conversation with “Newtie”.. he is flawed, but is vastly smarter than 99 percent of the politicians out there.. I think he could make a great impact. But one thing I noticed was that while he might sound “normal” or moderate, some of his supporters say some looney stuff and that’s what the press harps up on. I also would like to see if he has ADHD or something.. because he always has great ideas, but never carries through. So keep the looneys away from the microphone, and increase Newtie’s attention span, he might can get somewhere..
Gunluvr
March 27th, 2009
7:22 am
Welcome Newt!!
Jose Scrotum
March 27th, 2009
7:26 am
The Catholic Church has numerous shady characters as members, such as Leona Helmsley Pelosi and Plugs Plagerizer Biden. What’s one more?
Bitter EX democrat
March 27th, 2009
7:34 am
Learn how NO one is required to file/pay TAXES
Google: the great IRS hoax
learn all about it if YOU are fed up!
kitty
March 27th, 2009
7:52 am
Wonder how many annullments he is going to buy as his marriages fail?
Copyleft
March 27th, 2009
7:58 am
Whoops, almost forgot this site, which directly addresses Hansen’s favorite “Subtitle A” dodge:
http://evans-legal.com/dan/tpfaq.html#section861
Jim
March 27th, 2009
7:59 am
I live in Georgia. I am Catholic. No one hates me that I aware of. The Catholic Church has strict rules when compared to other christian churches. I think it is great that Newt is switching churches. He isn’t switching religions as incorrectly stated. Catholic isn’t a religion it is simply another Christian church. There are simply more baptists in the south and Catholics in the north due to historical reasons. It has nothing to do with anything else. Good for you Newt!
bull-gator
March 27th, 2009
8:07 am
who cares? another weak ass story from the ajc. no wonder their subscriptions are dropping faster than you can say bho is an idiot.
Jim
March 27th, 2009
8:08 am
Obama is ruining this country. Trillion dollar budgets? Do you like to pay more taxes? Bigger government telling you what to do? Cant take care of yourself? TeaPartyDay.com – check it out. Unless you like paying more taxes.
M Anthony
March 27th, 2009
8:10 am
Isn’t a newt part of the reptile family that changes colors according to the environment? I used to change them out of my yard but my neighbor said I should stop since newts eat the bugs around the foundation. How appropriate.
Kimberly
March 27th, 2009
8:11 am
Did the ajc actually PAY someone for this non-news article?
OneFreeMan
March 27th, 2009
8:17 am
He’ll fit in just fine. Hypocrit.
Linda
March 27th, 2009
8:17 am
I really don’t think this is news, but Newt can certainly become a member of any church he desires. There are many Democrat and Republican Catholics. If Newt wants to deal with his former marriages and join the faith of his current wife so be it. I am not Catholic, but I do have respect for the faith of others.
Mark Windsor
March 27th, 2009
8:23 am
President Kennedy was a Catholic…maybe Newt sees something here..what a crook..and a Jerk..Whatever became of his wife that was ill with cancer when he cheated on her…
Jim
March 27th, 2009
8:33 am
Actually, if you Google “Gingrich” and “2012″, you get just a shade over 265,000 links. Not really the excitement I was expecting to see.
Carol G
March 27th, 2009
8:39 am
Well, we do call ourselves “the Church of sinners, ” LOL! I guess one more won’t sink it.
Jay Butler
March 27th, 2009
9:06 am
I bet Mark Windsor cheats on his wife.
Jay Butler
March 27th, 2009
9:11 am
Barack and Newt should get together. With Newt’s ideas and Barack’s charisma, they could lead this country to a much better place. Too bad that could never happen with the divide we have today. Achievers vs non-achievers.
Russ
March 27th, 2009
9:30 am
Its inexplicable to me why people make nasty comments about Newt. Whether or not you like him, he’s is doing something that he believes will make him a better person. I have no idea if he is sincere or commited to catholicism, but making nasty remarks about him or “evil Republicans” won’t make your life better
SpaceyG
March 27th, 2009
9:40 am
Different than Madonna? In what way?
Edward
March 27th, 2009
9:44 am
Newt is a perfect fit for the Catholic church. the Catholic church is directly responsible for more suffering and death and destruction for millenia than any modern “terrorist” organization could ever hope to accomplish.
Russ
March 27th, 2009
9:50 am
Edward…Can you cite some specific examples, because I am Catholic and have never terrorized anyone?
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.