Blair Now Officially Catholic

Former British PM makes long-awaited conversion
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 22, 2007 11:16 AM CST
Blair Now Officially Catholic
In this photo made available by Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI meets with outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair during a private audience at the Vatican in this June 23, 2007 file photo. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has converted to Catholicism, British media reported...   (Associated Press)

Tony Blair converted to Catholicism yesterday, confirming months of rumors that he would switch from the Church of England, the UK Times reports. "I am very glad to receive Tony Blair into the Catholic church," said the archbishop of Westminster, who performed the ceremony in London. The former PM had long been attending services with his Catholic wife.

Blair had waited to make his conversion until out of office due to concerns that it would stir up political and public issues for an administration that once announced, "We don't do God." One of Blair's last acts as prime minister was to visit the pope at the Vatican. (More Tony Blair stories.)

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