More at Reuters hereLONDON (Reuters) - Former prime minister Tony Blair has converted from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism, the head of Britain's Catholics said on Saturday.
Blair, whose wife and four children are Catholic, was received into the Catholic Church by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor on 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, adding the conversion took place in private at a chapel at the cardinal's residence in central London.
"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.
Blair converts to Catholicism
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Androsphinx
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Blair converts to Catholicism
I don't think anyone is suprised. Still, nice of him to wait and avoid a bunch of constitutional problems.
"what huge and loathsome abnormality was the Sphinx originally carven to represent? Accursed is the sight, be it in dream or not, that revealed to me the supreme horror - the Unknown God of the Dead, which licks its colossal chops in the unsuspected abyss, fed hideous morsels by soulless absurdities that should not exist" - Harry Houdini "Under the Pyramids"
"The goal of science is to substitute facts for appearances and demonstrations for impressions" - John Ruskin, "Stones of Venice"
"The goal of science is to substitute facts for appearances and demonstrations for impressions" - John Ruskin, "Stones of Venice"
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CaptainChewbacca
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Re: Blair converts to Catholicism
What constitutional problems could arise from the Prime Minister changing his public religious affiliation?Androsphinx wrote:I don't think anyone is suprised. Still, nice of him to wait and avoid a bunch of constitutional problems.
Stuart: The only problem is, I'm losing track of which universe I'm in.
You kinda look like Jesus. With a lightsaber.- Peregrin Toker
You kinda look like Jesus. With a lightsaber.- Peregrin Toker
Re: Blair converts to Catholicism
Isn't Anglicanism the official religion? I imagine if a conflict arose, it would come from that.CaptainChewbacca wrote:What constitutional problems could arise from the Prime Minister changing his public religious affiliation?
A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all men; claiming higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws, that nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people; steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any religious creed or family is a standing offense to most of the Governments of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.
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Androsphinx
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Re: Blair converts to Catholicism
Yes. While there's no ban on a Catholic PM (unlike the monarch, who is explicitly banned from being Catholic under the 1701 Act of Settlement), England has an established Church, and the government has a not-inconsiderable involvement in its highest levels. Most obviously and problematically, the PM appoints (technically, recommends to the Queen) bishops and archbishops of the CoE.Surlethe wrote:Isn't Anglicanism the official religion? I imagine if a conflict arose, it would come from that.CaptainChewbacca wrote:What constitutional problems could arise from the Prime Minister changing his public religious affiliation?
"what huge and loathsome abnormality was the Sphinx originally carven to represent? Accursed is the sight, be it in dream or not, that revealed to me the supreme horror - the Unknown God of the Dead, which licks its colossal chops in the unsuspected abyss, fed hideous morsels by soulless absurdities that should not exist" - Harry Houdini "Under the Pyramids"
"The goal of science is to substitute facts for appearances and demonstrations for impressions" - John Ruskin, "Stones of Venice"
"The goal of science is to substitute facts for appearances and demonstrations for impressions" - John Ruskin, "Stones of Venice"
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Androsphinx
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I should note that this is almost certainly not why Blair waited until being out of office. Recall his statements a few weeks ago about the British public's disdan for open religious displays? Converting is a pretty good indication of religious interest.
"what huge and loathsome abnormality was the Sphinx originally carven to represent? Accursed is the sight, be it in dream or not, that revealed to me the supreme horror - the Unknown God of the Dead, which licks its colossal chops in the unsuspected abyss, fed hideous morsels by soulless absurdities that should not exist" - Harry Houdini "Under the Pyramids"
"The goal of science is to substitute facts for appearances and demonstrations for impressions" - John Ruskin, "Stones of Venice"
"The goal of science is to substitute facts for appearances and demonstrations for impressions" - John Ruskin, "Stones of Venice"