Home > News > God & Country > Newt Gingrich: 'Our First Great Challenge Is Spiritual'

Newt Gingrich: 'Our First Great Challenge Is Spiritual'

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Newt clearly demonstrated his ignorance when he started with his rant about the ACLU. The fact is that the ACLU has defended many christian organizations' rights to freedom of expression. Here is a link to just a few of their cases supporting Christian organizations:
http://www.aclufightsforchristians.com/
The ACLU supports any organization, left or right, when their rights are being jeopardized. This includes the rights of those in minority religions or having no religion when religious groups or individuals try to impose their views in public settings. They have a right to express their views, just not to do so in public schools or in publicly funded enterprises.
Catherine of OH is the one expressing ignorance of the constitution when she says
"NO WHERE CAN YOU FIND ANYTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION REGARDING SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE." The first amendment constitution starts "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." While this doesn't use the words "separation of church and state" it is clearly intended to serve that function. In fact the writings of Jefferson and Madison (and others) clearly document that their intent in writing this phrase was to create "a wall of separation between church and state." This clause means that there cannot be any government involvement in religion. This nation was not founded on any religion, but was founded on the concept that keeping government out of religion insures that everyone will be able to freely practice their religion as they see fit.

Craig of NJ 2:30PM June 15, 2009

Does he want to be a politician or does he want to be a preacher/priest/minister? Nothing is wrong with his ideas, our society may indeed need a "spiritual awakening", however, the last person I want to hear talking about spirituality is a politician (particularly, one with Gingrich's dubious background). Politicians should focus on things like the economy, foreign policy and taxes and let the reverends, bishops, and rabbis handle the rest.

Lisa Porter of CA 9:37PM June 09, 2009

PAUL; YOU ARE EVIDENTLY NOT A STUDENT OF THE CONSTITUTION. NO WHERE CAN YOU FIND ANYTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION REGARDING SEPRATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.BEFORE YOU START THIS COUNTRY WAS NOT SET UP AS A SECULAR STATE.

CATHERINE of OH 6:34PM June 09, 2009

Gingrich has been married numerous times and as an earlier poster pointed out, he left he cheated on one of them when she was recovering from cancer. You can forget the female vote for this old gas-bag. Edwards is a loser too for the same reason.
"There were times when I was praying and when I felt I was doing things that were wrong. But I was still doing them," Gingrich said during the interview. "I look back on those as periods of weakness and periods that I'm not only not proud of, but I would deeply urge my children and grandchildren not to follow in my footsteps." - Gingrich, 2007

AZJ of AZ 5:49PM June 09, 2009

All religions (includuing Paganisim) are fantasy. If it were not for Religion there would be fewer if no more wars.
The human race is intelligent enough to live in peace and harmony without the cruytch of religion

Bill Bauer of NY 3:00PM June 09, 2009

This comment is offensive to me, a fellow Catholic. I feel very dismayed that this came from Newt whom I have admired and supported due mainly to my belief he was a protector of our much beleagured Constitution - this comment supports "religious freedom"?

Carroll Petersen of AL 2:10PM June 09, 2009

The comments shown are indeed fundamentalist, but with their repeated focus on subordination to God's will, they could just as easily be Muslim as Christian.
And that's fine, of course; I just wonder if Bro. Newt is aware of that fact.

Lobo Tommy of VA 1:17PM June 09, 2009

Yes, I know there is a God creator of all.
United? States' Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and speech.
The Bible states: 1)free will to us children (and consequences--negative or positive).
2)judge not lest ye be likewise judged and what we see in others is in ourselves (projection--Psych)
3) put on the consciousness of Christ Jesus
4) and if there be CONTENTION ye have not that consciousness
5) love your brother, return good for evil, give your extra coat if there is need....
6) brother against brother...
Therefore, we can disagree w/o being disagreeable
but, ain't it hard!

Ruth Kirby of AL 11:09AM June 09, 2009

I am a pagan and I vote. I have embraced the religion of Wicca for 23 years. I am ordained, and have performed legal weddings in 5 states. There is no shame in having a minority religion. We have freedom of religion in the United States, so I find it sad that politicians would belittle other faiths and minority beliefs. Being surrounded by paganism from my perspective could be a good thing, meaning that more people are finding the joy of Wicca. However, saying that paganism is an offense is itself offensive... can you imagine if someone had said Judaism is an offense, or "we're surrounded by Christians and Christianity is an offense"? He only gets away with it because there aren't many of us to stand up and point out how wrong such a statement is.

Chris of LA 5:51AM June 09, 2009