12 Political Converts to Catholicism—Besides Newt
Reader Comments
heh..
nice, really nice!
Catholic Doctrine
Anyone who is pro-abortion, pro-gay rights, pro-stem cell research, etc.. is not a true Catholic. All of these concerns go directly against Church doctrine. These beliefs will not change as they are based on biblical teachings. This is the way it has been since Jesus told St. Paul to build His Church. It has nothing to do with the Catholic church having a lack of compassion or humanity it is simply the word of God.
Conservative converts...
Am pretty sure Sam Brownback came out in support of Sebillius, the pro-abort nominee of Obama.
That, to me, makes him not a genuine Roman Catholic.
Newt and Catholicism
Sorry, while I am a Catholic, I am also a skeptic. I see nothing in Gingrich's history to associate him with Catholic beliefs. I have a strong suspicion his motivation is to set his sights on a presidential nomination for 2012. He knows the Catholics came back to voting for the Democrats in the past election and sees this as a way to get those votes back. If he could flip those voters while holding on to the right wingers, he thinks he can get a majority.
I would hope that I am wrong, but I will not know for sure until 2012. If he makes no attempt to run for president, then I will take back my "insight" and apologize. But for now, it looks too perfect.
Converts to Catholicism
Albert Fall, the secretary of the Interior Department at the time of the Teapot Dome scandal, became a Catholic after he was released from prison.
I think a couple of former First Ladies of the 19th century were converts to Catholicism.
Among those on the left who converted to Catholicism included Dorothy Day and gay academic John Boswell.
Catholic Converts
Clarence Thomas was raised Catholic, became an Episcopalian as an adult, but then "reverted" to the Church as a Supreme Court Judge.
one more person
You forgot to mention Clarence Thomas, I read he converted to Catholicism as well.
WOW Louisiana!
Thanks for a reasoned and well thought out history lesson.
Have you noticed that the folks who show little to no respect for the Catholic faith rarely claim themselves and their beliefs? It seems that all they can do is make secular humanism arguments in order to feel enlightened, progressive, and superior.
Frankly, they just come across as mean and ignorant - and completely unable to mentally get their arms around faith and religion. To them, it's all about elections and "winning".
God bless! (Them too :-)
Newt for Pope?
"I thought the previous pope was someone on such a path. Newt Gingrich? Not so much". Thanks be to God Newt hasn't asked to be Pope ;-) As a matter of fact, Mr. Gingrich has kept his faith quiet and reverent.
Whether it is ND, or the Conservative Republicans being Catholic as issues, those of you that are not practicing Catholics don't seem to understand - some things in life are not political, they can be spiritual or theological.
Judgment of Catholicism and the people who practice is mean-spirited and ignorant - it is also bigoted.
It's always easy to take pot shots at Catholics - we have a tendency to turn the other cheek.
BTW, Laughing all the Way? Catholics are either Catholic or they aren't. We don't have "neo/ultra/or conservative" Catholics. Those that would label themselves as anything other than "Catholic" without a prefix are NOT Catholic. That is the Church's word, not mine.
neocon theology
Your linking capital punishment, war, and social justice, with abortion, euthansia and same-sex marriage is proof of cafeteria Catholicism.
As for war, the Catholic Church is not "dogmatically" pacifist, but argues for a "just war criteria" which has its genesis in St. Augustine (360-430AD) and further refining with St. Thomas Aquinas.
Capital punishment is not "dogmatically rejected"; I suggest you read the CCC. It is perhaps not necessary given the ability of modern society to lock people up, but again it is not outright rejected and in no way equivalent to abortion, which has been condemned since the Didache [ca 90-100AD]. And as for social justice, so because someone likes a candiates policies on taxes, public education, medicaide, etc, that trumps abortion. Give me a break. And as for the term neocon, that is a political term and I don't descibe myself by geopolitical constructs, people who do that are inherently embracing marxist ideology.
I am a Catholic first and Americn of Sicilian ancestry. All of my ancestors through the JFK election were Democrats. However, Democratic party starting in the 1970's made abortion its litmust test. You don't believe it, Teddy Kennedy was a public supporter of Pro-Life Principles, but once MA went secular, he caved in. Even Jesse Jackson, up to 1984, when he got the prime time slot at the San Francisco Convention, was pro-life, argueing that a public acceptance of abortion may have led to his mother aborting him as his father abandoned his mother [I know he is not Catholic, but it shows you how abortion is the driving force behind the Democrat party operatives].
I stand by the statement that Obama, and Democrats, get votes from cafeteria and cultural Catholics, i.e. those that do not attend Sunday Liturgy [Mass} and frequent the sacrament of confession. In other words, as one practices their faith, one does not support a party who has elevated the killing of the unborn to a "sacrament"
Finally, someone mentioned the Inquisition. The funny thing about those who mention it is that most can't put it in the century it occurred. It started in March 1492 after the Spanish had "retaken" their homeland from the "Muslim invaders" who invaded Spain in the 8th century. Also, the inquisition was not used against non-Catholics. Some Jews had falsely converted to Catholicism and among those Jews who remained Jewish, some, not all, had conspired with the Muslims during the war of reconquest by the Spainish against the Muslim invaders.
After the war ended, Muslims were sent out of Spain immediately. Jews were given 3 months to get their belongings together and then expelled from Spain. Now, this was an unjust act and in the end, "only God is perfectly just". What should have happened is only those conspirators should have been expelled and not an entire ethnic group. On Catholics were brought before the Inqusition. In closing, looking at this event without historical context is pure deconstructism.
