California Catholic Daily

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Published: April 14, 2009

High-profile conversion

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich joins Catholic Church

Washington, D.C., Apr 13, 2009 / (CNA) -- The Catholic Church has welcomed another high profile politician into the fold -- former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

According to press reports, Gingrich, who spent most of his life as a Baptist, attended an evening Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 29, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation the same evening.

Gingrich, who has had two well-documented divorces outside the Catholic Church, recently appeared on Fox News to discuss North Korea, but also spoke briefly about his conversion.

The conservative leader said that “reading the literature” and “meeting with Monsignor Rossi” gave him “peace” in his soul and a “sense of well being in the Catholic Church.”
He referred to his confirmation as “one of the most powerful moments of [his] life.”

When questioned about his past marriages, he said, “We have done everything within the law of the Church over the last 10 years, and it’s been a process.”

Gingrich also pointed to Pope Benedict XVI as a contributor to his conversion. He said that “seeing the joy in his eyes, listening to his message” led him to “really believe” in the Church’s message.

Gingrich also echoed Benedict XVI’s Palm Sunday message about self sacrifice and denial as the way to a successful life, saying he believed that “much of what’s wrong with our country” can be solved not with more selfishness and greed, but rather by “looking inside ourselves, not just looking at money or looking at our wallets.”

Article URL: http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=941e18a9-0079-4b79-800d-974998c864b9