It was announced that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, converted to the Catholic faith during a Mass held on Friday night at a chapel in London, the Catholic Church said in a statement released after the fact.
"It can be confirmed that Tony Blair has been received into full communion with the Catholic church by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor," the head of the church in England and Wales, the church said in the same statement.
Blair, who had long been a member of the Church of England, converted to Catholicism. Does this shock you? Please you? Upset you? How does it affect you?
2007-12-22 02:01:25 · 19 answers · asked by Andy K 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No it was widely speculated that after he left office he would convert, his wife and children are Catholic, so it seemed to many to be only natural, this is part of a growing trend in the UK as of last year there are more practicing Catholics in England than there are Anglicans.
And as a Catholic this does please me. It is good that many people are coming home to the church recognizing the mistakes of the Reformation.
2007-12-22 13:57:04 · answer #1 · answered by †Army Ranger† 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hadn't heard the news until I read your question but I'm pleased. I think everyone should be able to follow their own conscience when it comes to matter of faith. It's sad that in England, worse than in the United States, being Catholic keeps you out of high office. Look at John F. Kennedy and how he was the only Roman Catholic to be President of the USA.
But I always think it's interesting when adults change faith because I feel it means their faith is stronger. They're not just blindly sticking to what their parents taught them but actually following their own conscience and using their free will.
I am Catholic, I was a lapsed Catholic for awhile, I had issues after my marriage fell apart, but I returned to the church the stronger for having worked through those issues and examined my own conscience, deliberately choosing my own spiritual path.
2007-12-22 03:45:01 · answer #2 · answered by Fyre & Reign RETIRED 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It has absolutely no influence on my feelings either way. I don't care what a person believes of does.
A couple of notes to Lives7, who left off the word "ignorant" from his self-description:
1) The UK does not have a constitution and never has had.
2) Roman Catholics have been allowed to hold public office since the mid-nineteenth century. There are presently NO limitations on who can stand for or hold public office - unlike the USA, in which there are still six states in which public office is explicitly prohibited to atheists.
2007-12-23 09:18:34 · answer #3 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This has been expected for a couple of years so it should shock no one.
Mr Blair has been attending Catholic church with his Catholic wife and four children for several years.
I have no problem with this.
The Catholic Church accepts all recovering sinners. No repentant sinner is ever turned away.
May the Lord be with Mr Blair.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071222/wl_nm/britain_blair_dc;_ylt=AkaWDyF.hbS6fVA63S9uVO4DW7oF
With love in Christ.
2007-12-22 17:09:55 · answer #4 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As somebody who's recently decided to convert to Catholicism myself, I am proud to see a man of such power make the same choices I did. I feel the Catholic church is the church established by Jesus Himself before he left earth for Heaven. I can see why Mr. Blair made this decision.
2007-12-22 02:11:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
It shocks me that a modern first world nation can still allow their Constitution to deny basic equality to ALL citizens regardless of their religious affiliations. ie specifically it denies Catholic from holding government positions that advises their Monarchy.
Institutionalized bigotry still exists in Britain. How shocking and tragic.
The reasons that the pilgrims left are still institutionalized in the English constitution.
2007-12-22 02:07:56 · answer #6 · answered by Lives7 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I hadn't heard the information until eventually I study your question yet i'm overjoyed. i think of each and every person must be waiting to stay with their very very own ethical experience while it contains rely of religion. this is unhappy that for the duration of England, worse than in america, being Catholic retains you out of extreme workplace. seem at John F. Kennedy and how he replaced into the sole Roman Catholic to be President of the u . s .. yet I constantly think of this is thrilling while adults exchange faith because of the fact i've got faith it potential their faith is greater ideal. they don't look to be merely blindly sticking to what their mothers and fathers taught them yet actual following their very very own ethical experience and employing their loose will. i'm Catholic, i replaced right into a lapsed Catholic for awhile, I had subjects after my marriage fell aside, yet I back to the church the greater ideal for having worked by those subjects and examined my very very own ethical experience, intentionally finding out on my very very own religious course.
2016-10-02 06:12:50 · answer #7 · answered by nason 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good for him -- may the Lord continue to shine His truth in Blair's life.
2007-12-22 08:19:10 · answer #8 · answered by ziema26 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first thought that comes to my mind is what Bush will do when he steps down....finish kindergarten and finally master fingerprinting
***on a serious note I make it a personal point NOT to question another persons faith. ***
2007-12-22 02:09:18 · answer #9 · answered by phule_poet 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It doesn't shock, please or upset me.
The beautiful thing about most countries it is a man or woman's prerogative to worship in the religion of their choosing.
2007-12-22 02:56:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋