Blair Now Officially Catholic

Former British PM makes long-awaited conversion

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 22, 2007 11:16 AM CST

(Newser) – 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.

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,... (Associated Press)

New York Cardinal Edward Egan, right, returns to his seat beside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair after each spoke at the 62nd annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York, Thursday,... (Associated Press)

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Blair Now Officially Catholic

Former British PM makes long-awaited conversion

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Vatican Issues Warning on Angels, Demons Sect

Members believe women who have abortions are possessed by the devil

Church Accuses Berlusconi of Sacrilege

Divorced PM's taking of Holy Communion enrages priest, bishop

Vatican Leaks Expose a Mutiny Within

Leaks shed light on Holy See power struggle

Brits Issue 'Catholic Cards'

British church issues 'faith cards' to 1M

Benetton Yanks Pope-Imam Kiss Ad

...within an hour of Vatican complaint

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Former British PM makes long-awaited conversion

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Tony Blair • Catholic Church • Vatican • communion • Archbishop of Westminster • conversion

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Vatican Issues Warning on Angels, Demons Sect

Members believe women who have abortions are possessed by the devil

Church Accuses Berlusconi of Sacrilege

Divorced PM's taking of Holy Communion enrages priest, bishop

Vatican Leaks Expose a Mutiny Within

Leaks shed light on Holy See power struggle

Brits Issue 'Catholic Cards'

British church issues 'faith cards' to 1M

Benetton Yanks Pope-Imam Kiss Ad

...within an hour of Vatican complaint

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Newser By Users

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