Blair May Become "A Catholic Deacon"

[rayne89]

Whoever wrote the article needs to brush up on Catholicism. He said deacons unlike priests do not have to take a vow of chastity. As christians we all take a vow of chastity it’s celibacy that is required of priests.

 

[Digitonomy]

As christians we all take a vow of chastity it’s celibacy that is required of priests.

I don’t recall every Christian taking such a vow. Instead, we are bound by divine law to chastity, without taking any particular vow. I suppose when we as Catholics renew our baptismal vows, we implicitly vow chastity as part of our obedience to the Church. However, if that were sufficient, there wouldn’t be any reason to ever make any explicit vows.

 

[MrIrish]

I just don’t understand why everyone is doing backflips to receive someone into communion with the Church who strongly disagrees with Church teaching and even helped pass legislation that could prosecute Catholics for hate crimes.

Amen. And let’s not forget his past support for abortion and for experimentation on embryos, please. I eagerly await his public repudiation of his support of such anti-life positions.

 

[Brian_C]

Let’s not try and dwell on that fact as I suspect that it is main reason the mods get uneasy discussing conversion of public figures. I didn’t realize that but my main intent in the first place was just trying to figure out this rush-deacon thing.

 

[rwoehmke]

Whoever wrote the article needs to brush up on Catholicism. He said deacons unlike priests do not have to take a vow of chastity. As Christians we all take a vow of chastity it’s celibacy that is required of priests.

I believe that women and men who enter the Orders are expected to take vows of Chastity, Obedience, and Poverty. There may be a partial exemption from one or the other of these for some Orders, but I don’t know of any. No matter, all of us are expected to be Chaste. What that means in practice depends on our state in life. Celibacy covers not entering the married state and is different than the obligation to chastity which all of us have, vows or no-vows.

 

[jmcrae]

I have no idea about the veracity of the claims about communion via JPII.

This is an urban legend - there is a topic about this on the Catholics Online Forum right now that shows the press links.

Tony Blair has never received Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. He goes up and receives a blessing, only.

 

[Riley259]

This is an urban legend - there is a topic about this on the Catholics Online Forum right now that shows the press links.

Tony Blair has never received Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. He goes up and receives a blessing, only.

Thanks for the clarification - it was worrisome, indeed.

 

[Klydewannab]

I think if you go back and read the article you’ll see that they’re talking about “fast tracking” him into communion with the church. In other words, rather than going through something like RCIA and needing to wait for the Easter vigil, he may be confirmed at any time. It seems like the secular media was confusing the two issues–that of entering the church and of becoming a deacon. Blair was told it would take 2 or 3 years to become a deacon and he asked if being PM might hasten it, but the reporter does not record any answer.

At least that’s how I read it.

 

[jmcrae]

I think if you go back and read the article you’ll see that they’re talking about “fast tracking” him into communion with the church. In other words, rather than going through something like RCIA and needing to wait for the Easter vigil, he may be confirmed at any time.

This is certainly possible, especially if his family is Catholic, and he has been coming to Mass on a regular basis for at least a year.

It seems like the secular media was confusing the two issues–that of entering the church and of becoming a deacon. Blair was told it would take 2 or 3 years to become a deacon and he asked if being PM might hasten it, but the reporter does not record any answer.

How on earth would that work? What relationship is there between being a Deacon and being Prime Minister?

 

[ljpw1958]

I think it’s great, the endeavor that he is going to undertake!
God bless him and we should all pray for his conversion!

 

[Brian_C]

Reminder to everyone! This thread has been closed once already b/c it’s against the rules to discuss conversion of a public figure. The reason I made this post was specifically to inquire about the issue of Blair becoming a deacon and how that was possible.

 

[DL82]

I believe that women and men who enter the Orders are expected to take vows of Chastity, Obedience, and Poverty. There may be a partial exemption from one or the other of these for some Orders, but I don’t know of any. No matter, all of us are expected to be Chaste. What that means in practice depends on our state in life. Celibacy covers not entering the married state and is different than the obligation to chastity which all of us have, vows or no-vows.

As I understand it, the married Deacon takes a vow of chastity that binds him to marital chastity, i.e. being faithful to his wife, and that when his wife dies, he is not allowed to re-marry.

 

[MinHC]

Tony Blair won’t become a deacon but it is more than likely he will convert.
Currently there are said to be ‘unresolved’ issues. He led a very liberal government and went against Pope John Paul II who advised him not to invade Iraq.
Maybe he is still on the road to Damascus.

 

[Daniel_03]

I just don’t understand why everyone is doing backflips to receive someone into communion with the Church who strongly disagrees with Church teaching and even helped pass legislation that could prosecute Catholics for hate crimes.

I’m glad God did not feel this way about St.Paul!

 

[Contarini]

Once upon a time, a long time ago, a diocese lost its bishop and the people began to look about to see who they might have as their new bishop. There was a man in the city who was learned and was deemed wise by all who knew him; so the people petitioned that the man be made their new bishop. The man protested that he was not even a Christian. But the people were adamant that he should be made their new bishop. So the man submitted to baptism and was shortly after made bishop of the area.
Thus Augustine became the bishop of Hypo.

Matthew

Actually that was Ambrose. I believe something similar happened to Cyprian. But not Augustine, though he was more or less coerced into both the priesthood and the episcopate.

Edwin

 

[lak611]

How on earth would that work? What relationship is there between being a Deacon and being Prime Minister?

In the United States, deacons and priests are not allowed to be elected to public office. It’s a Church law, not a civil law. The Church forbids clergy to hold public office.

 

[lak611]

How on earth would that work? What relationship is there between being a Deacon and being Prime Minister?

In the United States, deacons and priests are not allowed to be elected to public office. It’s a Church law, not a civil law. The Church forbids clergy to hold public office.

 

[jmcrae]

In the United States, deacons and priests are not allowed to be elected to public office. It’s a Church law, not a civil law. The Church forbids clergy to hold public office.

What I meant was, how does his having been Prime Minister of England have any bearing on his becoming a Deacon?

In what way could having been Prime Minister of England qualify him for being a Catholic Deacon? The two roles have absolutely nothing in common.

 

[lak611]

What I meant was, how does his having been Prime Minister of England have any bearing on his becoming a Deacon?

In what way could having been Prime Minister of England qualify him for being a Catholic Deacon? The two roles have absolutely nothing in common.

What you are saying makes sense. I do not see why a Prime Minister of England or President of the United States could not become a deacon. Although, I am unsure if the Church law applies everywhere or just in the U.S. If the law applies everywhere, he would probably have to resign his position as Prime Minister or MP if he wished to be ordained as a deacon.

 

[jmcrae]

What you are saying makes sense. I do not see why a Prime Minister of England or President of the United States could not become a deacon. Although, I am unsure if the Church law applies everywhere or just in the U.S. If the law applies everywhere, he would probably have to resign his position as Prime Minister or MP if he wished to be ordained as a deacon.

I think we are at cross-purposes here.

What I am asking is why on earth Blair should become ordained as a Catholic Deacon. In what way could the man possibly be qualified for such an important role in the Church?