Newt Gingrich Catholic

Newt Gingrich - Catholic

(continued from Newt Gingrich Religion)

Newt Gingrich officially converted to Roman Catholicism. Why did Newt Gingrich become a Roman Catholic? In April of 2011, he explained:

"People ask me when I decided to become Catholic. It would be more accurate to say that I gradually became Catholic and then realized that I should accept the faith that surrounded me." (Newt Gingrich at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. on April 27, 2011)

Roman Catholicism "surrounded" Newt Gingrich principally via his present wife, a Catholic, but he had known her since the 1990s. What triggered Newt Gingrich's realization in 2009?

"Catching a glimpse of Pope Benedict [during his 2008 US visit], I was struck by the happiness and peacefulness he exuded. The joyful and radiating presence of the Holy Father was a moment of confirmation about the many things I had been thinking and experiencing for several years."

Jonah was the epitome of "peacefulness" while disobeying God and jeopardizing many souls:

"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep." (Jonah 1:1-5)

As to the "Holy Father", Jesus strictly warned us against calling anyone on earth our spiritual father, let alone "Holy Father":

"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven." (Matthew 23:9)

>> Continued