Rob Schneider, a former “Saturday Night Live” performer and longtime comedy actor, announced this week that he has converted to Catholicism.
Schneider said on X last week that he had converted just before his 60th birthday.
“I am the luckiest man in the world,” he posted, referring to his wife, Patricia, and their three daughters, Elle, Miranda, and Madeleine.
“Today I am reminded of what Dr. M Scott Peck told me over 30 years ago: At 40, you feel like you can conquer the world, and there’s a sense that nothing can stop you,” he wrote. “But at 60, you realize the very real fragility of life and [the] temporariness of it all. A humbling knowledge that there is indeed a time limit for all things and that God’s design, though perfect, is precious far beyond its brevity.”
Schneider also apologized for his behavior in the past, saying he had a “lack of Christ’s forgiveness to my fellow man.”
I want thank ALL of the lovely people for their kind birthday wishes for me today on my 60th birthday.
— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) October 31, 2023
I am the luckiest man in the world.
I have a wonderful partner in life, my beautiful wife Patricia and three lovely daughters; Elle, Miranda and Madeline.
Today, I am reminded… pic.twitter.com/DcNq5dZBwu
“I was so angry at the people who shut down the schools and indeed the world and coerced others to do things against their will, which hurt many people deeply,” he recalled. “I offer my unconditional forgiveness and amnesty.”
He indirectly referred to some of the people he had failed to forgive, including “the famous singers who would not let others into his Broadway show unless they had” a COVID-19 shot and “the actor who shamed people like me but has been such a great example for other actors never to give up and keep fighting for their dream.”
He added: “How can I still be mad at the lovely actress who said she could no longer be friends with people like me who didn’t ‘get’ it, knowing how incredibly kind she is with every child she meets.”
Schneider also pointed to his own mother, Pilar, who he says forgave the World War II occupiers of her home country of the Philippines, who also killed her brothers.
“It is forgiveness itself that is the gift that we give ourselves because it frees us as Christ intends for all of us to be free. His gift of ultimate and unlimited forgiveness is indeed the gift for all humanity.”
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Paul Morigi / Stringer
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.