Newt Gingrich Becomes A Roman Catholic

In something of a quiet surprise, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has converted from Southern Baptist to the Roman Catholic church.
Now, one has to know that it is a real change from the Southern Baptist style, governance and theology to Roman Catholic style, governance and theology.
But I want to take a look at how this is being received by some.
Matt Lewis over at Townhall.com seems to think that there may be a political reason behind it. And that could be a possibility. But, one thing to note is that Mr. Gingrich's wife, Calista, is a Roman Catholic. It is very possible that she had a strong influence on Mr. Gingrich's Christian conversion. But if it is nothing more than a political calculation, it would be shallow at worst.
It does bring to mind the righteous criticism that President Obama got being a member of the infamous Trinity United Church of Christ and an acolyte of the "Rev." Jeremiah Wright. One of the criticisms is that then Sen. Messiah Barack could not have sat in the pews of TUCC for 20 years and not heard some of the "Reverend's" greatest hits. When the going got tough for candidate Obama, he did all to distance himself from TUCC and the "Rev." Wright. And now, President Obama has not found a church in the Nation's Capital. Oh, there is always St. John's Episcopal Church across the street from the White House. It worked very well for Methodist former President Bush 43. Can it be said that the 20 years of sitting in the pews of TUCC was nothing more than a political move? One can not know the heart of President Obama any more than that of Newt Gingrich.
Another take is how many prominent Mainline Protestants have left for the Roman Catholic Church.
There is radio talk show host Laura Ingraham, a former Presbyterian. Same for political writer Robert Novak. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) the same. And one of the most famous internationally is former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
To me, as a Mainline Protestant, it is an indictment of how far the Mainline has strayed from basic Christianity and basic Christian truths.
In my own Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Rhode Island actually defrocked a minister who tried to claim that there is nothing wrong with her being an Islamic and Christian. That was even too much for a bishop to take. But, there is a bishop-elect in Michigan that has no problem with Eastern religions being as equal as the Christian faith.
It is a loosy-goosy approach that "keeps asking questions" but never getting answers.
For all of the faults that I have with the Roman church, the one aspect that I respect is that they do not waver for the modern culture. Thus they do speak some rather uncomfortable truths to many people. But, to many a Roman Catholic and non-Roman Catholics, they do have answers to many if not all of life's questions.
Maybe that is what attracted Mr. Gingrich to becoming a Roman Catholic. Again, I have to accept that it had been on his heart for a long time.
We will see if there are any political implications. I do not think that is the case.