Congressman Bobby Jindal - Catholic Apologist?
Readers might remember Earl's profile of Louisiana Representative Bobby Jindal featured in Catholics in the Public Square last month. Jindal is the first Indian-American elected to Congress for nearly 50 years and a rising star in the Republican Party. Born a Hindu, Jindal converted to the Catholic faith in his teens.
As I had commented at the time, the blog RedState did an interview with Jindal, in which he was asked what he was reading -- he responded: "I'm reading Ian Ker's biography of John Henry Newman. It's a great book, and he had a profound impact on Oxford and on matters of faith." It might not be much, but I was pleased to know we have a Catholic politician interested in John Henry Newman -- a man of conviction and a great model for Catholic converts.
Well, Vincent of What a Mystery reveals that Congressman Jindal had also been a contributor to This Rock, the prominent Catholic apologetics magazine edited by Karl Keating:
- "Anatomy of a Christian Friendship", January 1998.
- "Atheism's Gods", February 1995.
- "End of the Oxford Movement" January 1994.
"We all watched with joy as Iraqis dipped their fingers in ink and held them high, proudly proclaiming to the world that they had voted," recalled Jindal in a "Dear Colleagues" letter coordinating the congressional action. He provided the purple ink for both Republicans and Democrats.
"This symbolic gesture will tell Iraqis, and the world, that we believe in their cause and will stand beside them and all peoples who embrace freedom," said Jindal, the president of the House freshman class. "It's been said that partisanship stops at the water's edge. Let us again show that to be true by joining together in this symbolic gesture."
"Congress Salutes With Purple Fingers", by Bob Dart. Palm Beach Post Feb. 2, 2005.
Posts
Following the 2004 Presidential election, we've expanded our discussion to cover the public policy decisions of Catholics in public service on both sides of the political divide.
|