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Tony Blair & religion;; former PM's views & comments
Topic Started: Sunday, 24. June 2007, 17:35 (1,197 Views)
tomais

The Sunday press is again failry full of our soon to be ex Prime Minister becoming a Catholic.
I suggest that it is time to lay our cards on the table.
Many many anon persons convert daily.however this is different in that it sends out a whole host of different messages to a, world.
I will not at this juncture declare my hand but offer this up to disussion conjecture; Ok am a coward,( so what's new Folks?)
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Brian

Might be best to wait until we see if he actually is going to ask for full communion with Rome before passing comment.
Does seem to be something of a foregone conclusion ( to apply that is,) but not yet certain.
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CARLO
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Let us pray for him and for his conversion which should as with any other conversion be a source of delight and celebration.

Please let us refrain from tasteless anti-Blair tub thumping.

Oremus


CARLO
Judica me Deus
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Deleted User
Deleted User

At present, all is idle speculation. The Times (and others) report that all is not plain sailing
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/poli...icle1979342.ece
Let's wait and see before joining in the speculation. A few prayers wouldn't be out of order either.
KatyA
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Em.

Some time ago, I joined with others and petitioned the Prime Minister against against innocent children being adopted by hom osex uals etc.
Tne following is his reply.
Em
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sexorientation - petition reply
12 April 2007

We received a petition asking:

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Delay the passing into Legislation of the Sexual Orientation Regulations for England and Wales."

Details of petition:

"This would go against the fundamental rights of Christians to disagree with the practise of hom osex uality. Whilst this petition does not condone the persecution of these citizens, it does stress the need to allow those whose faith objects to these practises to maintain their objection."

Read the Government's response
On 7 March the Government published its response to the consultation "Getting Equal" and laid before Parliament Regulations to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities, services, premises and in the exercise of public functions.

Almost 3,000 responses were received to the Government's consultation, with the overwhelming majority accepting the principle of legislating in this area to prohibit unfair discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

The Government has listened carefully to the many points raised on this issue, which have been informed by wide-ranging debates in the media and Parliament. We believe that the balance we have reached between the competing rights of individuals to hold and manifest a religious belief and the right to live free from discrimination is the right one.

The Government's approach will ensure that nobody will be required to act in a way that contravenes their core religious beliefs. Where religious organisations enter into an agreement to provide services to the wider community, on behalf of and under contract to a public authority, lesb ian, gay and bisexual people should have equal access to those services. This is in line with the conclusions reached by the Joint Committee on Human Rights, in its recent Legislative Scrutiny report on the Regulations.

During the consultation, specific concerns were expressed about the application of the Regulations to the adoption and fostering sector. The Prime Minister addressed these issues in his statement of 29 January 2007, when he announced that in the interests of vulnerable children, the regulations will provide for a transition period for faith-based adoption agencies until the end of 2008. There will also be a regular independent assessment from adoption and child welfare experts on the impacts of the regulations on adoption in order to ensure that we maintain the existing body of expertise. You can read his statement on the PM's website at the following address: http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page10869.asp.

In the interim, any agency wishing to take advantage of the transitional arrangements will have to refer gay, lesb ian and bi-sexual people to agencies who are able to assist. This approach will enable vital services for children to be maintained, whilst preserving the principle of non-discrimination.

The Government is determined that everybody should have fair and equal access to goods, facilities and services regardless of who provides them and that a person should not be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation.
Divine Mercy
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PJD


The Governments reply was to say the least evasive. I would say deceptive.

Catholics are not free to go it alone. They would have to locate themselves abroad, and even that would probably offend some other British legislation.

The point is - hom osex uality is against the natural law. Governments have no power over the matter, apart that is from using secular force, which is what they are in fact doing.

We must pray that The Lord goes easy on them in His merciful ways.

PJD
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PJD


Yes I agree with what has been said.

The best thing for Tony Blair is in fact to become a Catholic. If so, it would be the wisest thing he would have done in his life - apart that is from the grace that would precede such a decision and offered to his own free will.

PJD
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Rose of York
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PJD
Jun 25 2007, 07:19 PM
Catholics are not free to go it alone. They would have to locate themselves abroad, and even that would probably offend some other British legislation.

If the children are British Nationals, I doubt whether they could be adopted without the approval of Social Services, so how can Christian adoption agencies operate on Christian principles?
Keep the Faith!

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Em.

What I cannot understand, and it might take many years before I can, is that the Prime Minister is supposwed to be joining the CatholicChurch, and people are suggesting that he wants to be a deacon yet he is blind to the Church's teaching.

I just cannot understand the way he thinks.
Divine Mercy
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Rose of York
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I cannot see any bishop being willing to ordain a man to the Permanent Diaconate, if he has demonstrated, in public office, his support for practises the Church condemns. Parishioners would not wear it, it could lead to many going to another parish. I wonder how long a man must be a Catholic before he can approach his Bishop with a view to becoming a Permanent Deacon?

Fancy being buried by an ex Prime Minister? That would be the ultimate in parish one-upmanship.

Between us we should be able to think of another "ministry". How about Minister without Portfolio (odd job man)?
Keep the Faith!

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Quicunque vult

Like Em, I seriously question how he could become a Catholic, let alone a Deacon, unless he is prepared to recognise his errors in this (and indeed other matters - eg abortion, stem cell research etc). Moreover, because he is a public figure, and his position on these matters is well known, I think there would have to be some sort of public renunciation to provide confidence to Catholics that he wasn't being let in on false pretences.

QV
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Gerry2
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I agree that it would be good for Tony Blair to become a Catholic, but given his stance on abortion and stem cell research and taking Britain into unjust wars and all the other issues that the Pope took him to task for, he might find it a more difficult process than, say, somebody not in the public eye.
Love is as strong as death (Songs 8:6)
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Alan
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I would be very surprised to find any Politician "fast tracked" to conversion.

In recent times we have seen a number of Acts of Parliament passed which are contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Representations from the Hierarchy have been ignored. It would be beyond me if politicians responsible were fast tracked. Surely such politicians are in great need of substantial instruction?

Yes, we should always include in our Prayers those who enquire or pursue a course of instruction.

God Bless all who visit this forum,

Alan.

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Emee
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I agree with Em and QV. Tony Blair has supported, or at least not contradicted, far too many agendas that are incompatible with Catholicism and Christianity in general.

However, I understand there has to be a period of about 5 years, after becoming a Catholic, before he can even be considered for the Permanent Diaconate, so it couldn't be an overnight decision anyway. The man will have plenty of time to study, learn and think about such matters. I agree that a public renunciation from him of certain ideas would be necessary to restore confidence - not only in the man and his potential new position, but in the credbility of the Church for accepting him. If he is accepted to the Permanent Diaconate without such public renunciation, we open ourselves up, potentially, to all sorts of criticism and ridicule, and cries of hypocrasy.

The media would have a field day...
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PJD


We discussed this briefly today in the Sacristy - point was whilst Newman had to make a 'retraction', Blare doesn't necessary have to do so because he has not written (as Newman did) texts in direct opposition to Roman Catholicism.

So only confession is needed methinks. And he does not need to see the Pope for this as one prelate said on another occasion, a humble priest will do.

PJD
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