Blair to Convert to Catholicism

Tony Blair is about to become a Roman Catholic, the Guardian reports. His wife is a practicing Catholic, his children were raised in the faith, and the PM has attended mass with them often. But political considerations have kept him officially Anglican all these years. With his last day in office next week, he's planning to come out of the religious closet.

Though Catholics have been barred from the British throne since James II was deposed in 1688, there have been many Catholics in public office over the last 40 years. But suspicion of Papists has a rich history in the UK, and Blair apparently didn't relish becoming the first Catholic prime minister. (More Tony Blair stories.)