Will Blair become a true Catholic?

Madasafish

Lets see Mr Blair is a "practising" Christian. That presunably does not mean practsing as in "learning" but obeying Christian teaching. And one clear Commandement that ALL Christian sects can agree about is not to lie. I fail to see how ANY Christian Chuirch can accept Mr Blair without a very long confession: about 10 years long

Paul Priest [http://onthesideoftheangels.blogspot.com]

I still don't think people realize the severity of Tony Blair's public 'offences' which are not only contrary to catholic teaching - for a catholic they are canonically excommunicable acts. The two most predominant factors are his voting on 'Life issues' where he conspired in promoting and furthering the experimentation and murder of the unborn ; and his actuation [as PM] of an illegal unjust war in Iraq [irrespective of the mendacity involved - inaugurating an unjust war is classified in canon law as judicial murder]. Reception into catholicism requires an aknowledgement and abrogation of all past sins, sincere authentic penitence and therefore forgiveness for transgression. This cannot occur while the ex-prime minister revels in his record, justifies his time in parliament and equivocates away his collaboration in the deaths of others; whether inside the womb or being resident of an oil-rich nation. It is not pharisaical to expect a public recantation of public offences which axiomatically scandalise all the catholic church holds dear. Tony cannot go before His Eminence one day and beg forgiveness for his sins, then the next reap the rewards fom book sales and speech-tours where he not only justifies or mitigates those sins - he deinies they are even sins at all ; and expresses no regrets in his commission of them !!! Just because he entered the labour party with not a single socialist bone in his body ; it does not mean he can do the same with catholicism.

Kevin

A very knowledgeable article. Mr. Nelson is correct in observing that Catholicism is a specific belief system that is expounded in the Catechism. Liberals have failed to make any technical changes to Catholic doctrine, which is believed to be protected by infallibility, but their second best hope is to take over all the most important positions within the government of the Church and, through that mechanism, spread misinformation about the Faith to the laity. Part of this process has involved suppressing the traditional liturgy and abolishing Catholic education in the Church schools. (Philip Pullman may abuse the term "Magisterium", but the vast majority of Catholic schoolchildren will not know what it means anyway.) The Liberals' motto is: If there is no Catholic people, there is nothing to fear from Catholic doctrine.

paul adams

that's not fair. religion is too important, too serious for it to be written about in this way. true religion is all embracing. it is not party politics.

MGT

Malcolm Muggeridge was received into the church, it seems to me, with much more charitable thought given to his previous positions.

Gandalf

If Catholicism demands that the Prime Minister have all policy and legislation preauthorized by the Vatican, then it would be insanity for any sovereign nation to elect a Catholic to any position of authority.

Terry James

Good article. I have always had respect for Tony Blair, and thought for a politician, he was very forthright. I guess, given his political record, I am not quite sure what aspects of the Catholic catechism he is attracted to.

archie wedderspoon

Mr Blair's true beliefs are known only to him and God. But I must say, as a Catholic, that he doesn't seem to me to be ready to take the plunge yet. That is, of course, based purely on his public performances.

Elizabeth Stevenson

Typical Blair move, to show off!

Joe Jones

I cannot help but suspect that for Mr Blair to convert to Roman Catholicism there must be some substantial reward in it for him, ignoring any claims for 'spiritual reward'. I suspect he imagines he's joining some kind of esoteric sect.

Jon Gibbs

As a convert who kicked the Vatican into touch within a couple of years answer me this – How come the church 'accommodated' the Magdalene sisters and their laundries for all those years? They ought to be bloody ashamed of themselves Paul Priest.
And I dislike Blair as much as you do.

lenamaria witthoff

all sins are abolished after a while, so why not a former prime minister's? He was obviously not a roman catholic at that time.

PT

In comment to Gandalf: That's long been the reason for distrusting Cathloics politically, and the real reason why they were disenfrachised. I'm not going to argue one way or the other on this, it is simply a statement of fact that Protestants believed that this is how the Catholics would behave. As it happens, I think that Catholics questioning Mr Blair's "commitment" are fully justified. The man is a member of the Anglican Church which is surely far closer to the "liberal" views of both himself and his wife. It's not as if we're living in 16th century Spain where he may be deported or "investigated" if he isn't a fully communicant Catholic. If he chooses to "convert" it must surely be genuine. A man who expects the Catholic Church to join him is like the migrant who expects the population of his new country to all learn to speak his own language, whilst he refuses to speak theirs'!

Lenamaria Witthoff

There are many roman catholics that can not live up to what the roman catholic catekes tells is the churche's tradition.People might not be able to take part in the eucharisty if they would insist they are right, but still, many won't leave the church for anything in the world.

John Schuh

I am not comfortable with Mr. Blair's political views. The Church has done little, however, to discipline American politicians--such as Senator Kennedy and Speaker Pelosi-- about their flagrant disregard of Catholic teachings on abortion and homosexuality. So it is not only Mr. Blair but several of our "Catholic" politicians--and maybe some of our bishops--who ought to be more comfortable in the Robinson branch of the Anglican Church. Maybe they can just trade pew places with the real Christians.

Christopher Fleming

Blair is typical of the "I know best" type of catholics, who neither understand or care about the magisterium of the Church. The way he treated rebels in his party you would think he of all people would understand the value of loyalty and obedience! Could I stand for election as a labour candidate if I publicly disagreed with half the articles of their manifesto? He is under no obligation to convert to catholicism. Mr. Blair; if you canīt accept the teaching of the Church, stay out!!!!

Heather Buttery

Could somebody please tell Stephen Pound, Catholic Labour MP, that the Catholic faith teaches that there have been TWO people on this earth who have been perfect. Tony Blair does not have to try to be the third: he just has to be sincere in his repentance for past sins.

James Price

A rather smug article. I do not know a single intelligent Roman Catholic who does not to some extent cherry pick in religious terms. Almost every Catholic I have ever known uses contraception. Faith cannot exist without doubt; neither can it exist without common sense and this dangerous cocktail can lead to 'believers' rejecting some tenets of the faith (and these tenets (like papal infallibility, which dates from 1869, if I remember right)are man-made and subject to change anyway). That said it comes as no surpise that the zealots, with their tedious certainty about everything, want to exclude the doubters and the waverers. They are looking for team players, which in the language of the British establishment refers to people who respect and accept authority without asking any difficult questions.

Vicky

I don't have a problem with Tony Blair becoming a catholic its just another joke and if you can't take the piss out of your own religon then you cannot give other religons stick. Thats why we have wars, suicide bombing and teachers locked up for letting kids name a teddy Mohammed. We take it too seriously. If you think thats bad we have a Hitler Youth as pope.

Elizabeth Elliot-Pyle

Re the comment from Heather Buttery who says there have been TWO perfect people on this earth: who are they? I really would like to know. Is this a catholic thing? I always thought there was only the One, Jesus Christ. Who is the other? This is a serious question.

Herbert Thornton

Most people, I suspect, have no interest at all in the niceties of Tony Blair's relationship with the Catholic Church.

If - or when - Prince Charles declares himself converted to Islam it may generate a little more interest, including noticing that Rowan Williams has written to him to say he understands and wishes him well.

Craig Strachan

The first time a "Catholic Whip" has been attempted? Hardly. The Catholic hierarchy are always scheming to exercise influence from behind the curtain. We need to make sure Westminster doesn't end up like Monklands council.

Helen

The other perfect human being according to Catholic teaching is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was conceived without the stain of original sin and did not sin in her lifetime. Of course, her sinlessness is completely by God's grace, and was worked through the redemption won by her Son on the Cross. (Those who understand Scotus can explain the theology better than me...!) Advent's a good time to fast. Let's get praying that Mr Blair is a genuine convert. May God have mercy on us all.

Xan

I would imagine he is referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary, immaculately conceived and born without original sin and -- I believe -- considered to have lived a sinless life.

Derek Loré

Allow the man his personal religious convictions. How can anyone look into another man's soul and say what he is allowed to think? Uphold the concept of religious freedom....for God's sake!

J. S.

There was once a time when the Catholic Church accepted converts more readily than it does today. Asking those who wish to enter the faith to sign under every article of the Cathechism risks turning the Church into a Calvenist fellowship of the elect, thereby denying Christ's sacrifice for the whole of humanity. Despite its wide publicity, Blair's decision to convert to Catholicism is his private affair as an individual endowed with free will and a conscience, not as a former prime minister who must answer to his voters. Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God, the things that are God's.

highchurchman

Your article about Blair's possible conversion is misleading! Blair is already a Catholic by virtue of his membership of the Anglican Church. What he will become ,if he converts is a Roman Catholic a different beast all together. John Evelyn the 17th, Cent, Diarist described the Roman Church as the,"New Trent Religion,"(Diary, 10/3/86.The Roman Church was looked on as a foundling from the Council of Trent. As far as I can see as an Anglican,Mr, Blair has not been much ,'cop',(as they do say around here as an Anglican), the question is will he improve as a "Trentist"?

gerry

Tony Blair is admirably suited to aspire, not only to Catholicism but to its highest office, having his own hot line to his deity and also being infallible.

Gervas Douglas

Even someone with the appalling record of Tony "Miranda" Blair has the right to do penance and convert to Catholicism. If the conversion is insincere he will be the loser, not the Church.

Stewart

Could it be that Blair's conversion to Catholicism could make him more palatable to Southern,Central and Eastern European nations when it comes to selecting a European President? Or is that being too cynical or placing too much importance on a politician's faith?

Nigel Ford

Blair actually voted to keep the upper limit of abortion at 28 weeks (in 1990), not 26 weeks, as your article states. Not once has he ever voted in the pro-life lobby. Reducing the age of homosexual consent from 18 to 16, allowing homosexuals/lesbians to adopt, civil ceromonies for gays, making divorce easier, are all laws that his gov't introduced and which he fully supported although they are hardly compatible with biblical teachings. Still this was the guy who sent his kids to a Grant Maintained school back in the 1990's when it was his party's policy to abolish them which they did when they came to power in 1997.

caes1um

I would suggest that Blair is a typical modern Catholic, holding views shared by the majority of what is left of our devastated Church. My Catholic mother always warned me that "God will not be mocked". You don't have to be a Catholic to understand that one but if it helps Tony Blair ...

Dean

Does it not matter that Tony Blair ignored Pope John Paul II's opposition to the Iraq invasion?

Zee Qu

Is he the God fearing kind.......???!!!

Stephen

'What would Jesus have said?' I don't suppose he would have been that bothered as he was not a Roman Catholic but Jewish and was was his no doubt delightful mother Mary.

Simon Stephenson

Perhaps I'd do better not to get involved in this discussion, but, hell, you only live once. The Roman Catholic Church will not be affected in any way whether or not Tony Blair converts. Blair himself perhaps thinks it will, but I'm sure he'll find that the Church has somewhat more backbone than the UK Parliament. To me, it's more instructive to look at what this tells us, or confirms to us, about Tony Blair. I'd suggest that it places him at the extreme end of the narcissistic spectrum; someone who expects institutions to adjust their beliefs and values not just so that he may be accommodated, but because his mind responds to no other stimulus than that he is right and that everyone who believes differently is wrong. Blair's not alone among political leaders in possessing this mental disorder, but does anyone else agree with me that there is something very dangerous about having a political system that allows such a person to become the leader of a country?

Mark Williams

Compared to St Paul, his conversion would be a minor blip in the history of transformations.

Thomas Sheppard

Tony Blair not only voted against a reduction in the abortion time limits, but he vigorously opposed a reduction. In 1988, when David Alton's Bill to reduce the abortion upper limit to 18 weeks was being debated, Blair wrote an article for The Times arguing against any restriction in the time limit. One of his arguments was that this would prevent abortions of disabled babies - a positition which shows he wasn't so much 'pro-choice' as decidedly anti-life. If he has recanted his anti-life and anti-Catholic moral values this is to be welcomed. But it will be scandalous if he does not do this publicly if he is to become a Catholic. Any ambiguity about his views makes a mockery of any 'conversion' to the Catholic Church

Dr. Patrick Foley

I believe we must hope that the Holy Spirit has drawn Mr. Blair into becoming a Roman Catholic We cannot be the judge on that issue.

John H. MacKenzie

Hi! Our Lord Jesus recieved all kind of people meny of them sinners,just think of St Peter and St. Paul. So mr. L. Blair , may the Lord Jesus be with you and all who judge you!

Dominic Marchmain, author of young-fogey.blogspot.com

It was once written than no one can call himself Catholic if he is not at peace with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, so in response to earlier comments, Blair is not a Catholic at all. He was a member of the Church when he was baptised, but has been led into heresy by error, to say nothing of his odious wife. It is important that Mr Blair does accept all of the CHurch's doctrines, at the moment when he is received at any rate for this is the promise he will have to make on the night of his reception. For him to believe otherwise would be wrong and a lie. Of course people screw up in their moral life from time to time, even after conversion, but to openly launch attacks on the Church's moral teaching through legislation, and then to try and be received into the CHurch on one's own terms in thypical Blairite arrogance would be very serious indeed.

Helio Viana

I fully agree with the opinion according to which Tony Blair only could be accepted in the Catholic Church if he previously renounced to the errors and practices he accepted, such abortion and homosexual "marriage". Otherwise he's a perjure.

Jan Bolsover

I should 'Adam and Eve' it.Another of Tony's fantasies,'devout'( Catholic) Christian.A Church full of 'Tonies',could you think of anything more absurd or depressing?Is he(rightly)in fear of the life to come? If he truly converts ,I applaud him.If he converts on his own terms ,then it's no conversion at all and should not be countenanced by the Church hierarchy.But really, after all his nonsense,the best conversion would be a silent order far,far away.......zzzz