Tony Blair converts to Catholicism

Saturday December 22, 2007 1:16 PM

Tony Blair has converted to Roman Catholicism, the former PM's official spokesman has confirmed.

Mr Blair was received into the Catholic Church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, in the chapel of the Archbishop's House in Westminster on Friday night.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said: "I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church.

"For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion."

Monsignor Mark O'Toole, the cardinal's private secretary, led Mr Blair through his period of spiritual preparation before Friday night's ceremony.

The cardinal added: "My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together."

The move comes after years of speculation that Mr Blair, whose wife Cherie and four children are Catholic, would convert from Anglicanism after he resigned from Number 10 in June.

One of his last acts as prime minister was to visit Pope Benedict in June - his third trip to the Vatican in four years.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams wished the former Prime Minister well in his spiritual journey.

He said: "Tony Blair has my prayers and good wishes as he takes this step in his Christian pilgrimage."

Tony Blair converts to Catholicism | Metro.co.uk

Pax Christi...welcome to the flock Mr Blair ..

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

In addition...

More than 10 years ago Mr Blair was slipping into Westminster cathedral and occasionally taking communion, until the late Cardinal Basil Hume told him to stop because it was causing comment as he was not a Catholic - an injunction that bemused him at the time.

Since then he has regularly attended services conducted by Canon Timothy Russ, parish priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Great Missenden, the nearest Catholic church to Chequers.

After 30 years as a closet Catholic, Blair finally puts faith before politics | Special Reports | Guardian Unlimited Politics

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

He has a lot of praying to do.

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Talking about music is like dancing about architecture

An interesting aspect of this story is the political ramifications involved. Catholics are shall we say..not "popular" in England. Blair had to remain a closet Catholic for many years.There is an excellent chance he would never have made Prime Minister if his Catholic leanings had been known at the time.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

Religion sure causes a lot of stress in the world. Just sayin

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Talking about music is like dancing about architecture

Unfortunatly,that's so true and yet religion has also done some good things.For many,it gives comfort and billions of dollars have gone to charity through the church.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

A person of true faith doesn't wear it on their sleeve like a badge of honor. A person of true faith quietly and diligently struggles to continue the work of Christ. Brining EVERYONE into the flock, confirming the value of each individual in the eyes of God, and loving unconditionally with God-like compassion.

Just my personal opinion.

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And lack of it is a better option?...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

I agree, but I don't see the connection with this story...

Blair didn't jump to a podium and yell "I'm now a Catholic!"...The story was about him and not him pushing it...I don't see any badge of honor here...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd