Iowa church cancels appearance by Newt Gingrich
May 03, 2011
A Catholic church in Iowa has canceled a scheduled appearance by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, explaining that it wished to avoid political repercussions.
Gingrich was scheduled to speak on May 16 at St. John's basilica about the movie that he and his wife Callista produced: Nine Days that Changed the World, a documentary about the life and influence of Pope John Paul II. "This was supposed to be strictly a religious event honoring Pope John Paul II," said a spokesman for the basilica.
However, because Gingrich is seen as a likely candidate for the US presidency, and the Iowa caucus is the first major test in the presidential campaign, local reporters saw the appearance as a political event. The basilica remains interested in the Gingrich film, but does not wish to become involved in what might be seen as a campaign appearance, officials said.
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
May. 05, 2011 4:19 PM ET USA
Wise decision, Newt is not a poster boy for fidelity in marriage. I realize this is not relevant to the topic, but he hasn't dropped the fourth shoe yet. The less exposure he gets in Catholic circles, the better.
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Posted by: Obregon -
May. 04, 2011 12:25 AM ET USA
Absolute hypocrisy! How many times have Democratic candidates been allowed to speak in Catholic parishes and halls under the very nose of bishops and no one had a problem with "a political event."
