Blair becomes a Catholic
Sunday, December 23, 2007
FORMER British prime minister Tony Blair has converted from Britain's established church, Anglicanism, to Roman Catholicism, the head of Britain's Catholics said yesterday.
Blair, whose wife and four children are Catholics, was received into the Catholic Church by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor last Friday in a move that had been widely expected after he stepped down from power in June.
"I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church," Murphy-O'Connor said in a statement.
"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.
"My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together."
Blair, now the Middle East peace envoy, had private talks with Pope Benedict at the Vatican in June and his conversion had been predicted.
He has been receiving spiritual preparation for the conversion from Mark O'Toole, Murphy-O'Connor's private secretary.
His spokesman declined to comment on the announcement, saying it was a private matter.
Last month Blair, who was reticent about his faith during his 10 years in power, said religion was a serious matter for him.
"You know if I am honest about it, yes of course it was hugely important," he said in a BBC documentary.
"You know you can't have a religious faith and it be an insignificant aspect because it's, it's profound about you and about you as a human being."
But he added that, while politicians could speak about religious faith in the US, it was difficult to do so in Britain because "frankly people do think you are a nutter (crazy)".Reuters
Blair, whose wife and four children are Catholics, was received into the Catholic Church by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor last Friday in a move that had been widely expected after he stepped down from power in June.
"I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church," Murphy-O'Connor said in a statement.
"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.
"My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together."
Blair, now the Middle East peace envoy, had private talks with Pope Benedict at the Vatican in June and his conversion had been predicted.
He has been receiving spiritual preparation for the conversion from Mark O'Toole, Murphy-O'Connor's private secretary.
His spokesman declined to comment on the announcement, saying it was a private matter.
Last month Blair, who was reticent about his faith during his 10 years in power, said religion was a serious matter for him.
"You know if I am honest about it, yes of course it was hugely important," he said in a BBC documentary.
"You know you can't have a religious faith and it be an insignificant aspect because it's, it's profound about you and about you as a human being."
But he added that, while politicians could speak about religious faith in the US, it was difficult to do so in Britain because "frankly people do think you are a nutter (crazy)".Reuters
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