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Why Gingrich Became Catholic

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 16, 2009 5:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – Newt Gingrich shrugged off religious issues while in office, and was recently seen reading a novel before Mass—so why his sudden conversion to Catholicism? Some analysts say he converted this spring to position himself for the Republican nomination in 2012. Joining other high-profile conservatives on the road to Rome, he's already outpaced rivals by drawing in $8.1 million this year, Amy Sullivan writes in Time.

"Conservatives are especially receptive to the promise of there being some capital-T truth," says one Catholic observer. Gingrich seems to agree: "When you have 2,000 years of intellectual depth surrounding you, it's comforting." It doesn't hurt that his Catholic wife, Callista, dragged him to Mass after they married 9 years ago. Still, Gingrich isn't gung-ho: "I don't think of myself as intensely religious."

In this May 21, 2009 file photo, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich speaks during a conference on health care reform in Columbia, S.C.
In this May 21, 2009 file photo, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich speaks during a conference on health care reform in Columbia, S.C.   (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain, File)
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich looks on before speaking with reporters outside the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich looks on before speaking with reporters outside the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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It is sad to see notre dame invite president obama to give the commencement address since his policies are so anti catholic. - A Newt Gingrich tweet

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
wwwonderer
Aug 18, 2009 9:21 AM CDT
@free. Read it. Great book. And it reiterates what has already been said: morality and religion often contradict one another, and it is the religious component that has caused many deaths in our world.
my-name-here
Aug 17, 2009 12:58 PM CDT
Agreed, nice post, especially--"in short, morailty is independent of religion, it can be found there, but is not exclusive to it. "
dax
Aug 17, 2009 12:40 PM CDT
Newt may not think of himself as "intensely religious", but it would be correct to think of him as not intensely democratic as well, having worked "intensely" for the past three decades to undermine and short circuit the democratic process in his pursuit of power. Newt worships Newt.

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