Why is Tony Blair becoming Catholic?

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I know the news of Tony Blair wanting to become Catholic isnt new, but I came across this article by a Catholic from the Telegraph news:
telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/25/nblair225.xml

It turns out Blair is “privately” pro-life but “publicly” (especially in legislation) pro-abortion. Im embarrassed to admit I never knew about this, but the fact is it is a serious issue.

My question is why is Tony Blair becoming Catholic? Is there a real change in his views? Is he NOW really pro-life and with his standing in political society willing to publicly apologize for backing pro-abortion legislation?
 
My take on this, based on reading a few articles over the past couple years, is that he has come to accept that the Church has a better claim to be the true successor to the apostles. Mindful of the international scene, he also appreciates that it is the one church that is truly global and able to exert influence and bear witness worldwide. Finally, he would like to join with his wife as a member of the Church.

Why hasn’t he joined? He does not fully accept Church teachings on abortion and perhaps some other issues, like the role of gays in society. He may be able to put such doubts aside for his own purposes, but he recognizes that by joining the Church publicly there will be pressure on him, the Church, and his former colleagues in Labour to reaffirm or denounce this or that aspect of these issues. He hasn’t yet concluded that the dustup would be worthwhile. And he especially doesn’t want attention on himself to interfere with his efforts in his new job, a roving ambassador of the Quartet on the Palestinian issue.
 
Whenever he converts, whatever Tony Blair’s opinions on the abortion issue or others may be are ultimately between himself, his confessor, those priests or bishops who may choose to give him communion or not, and God. 🤷

If he has been publicly pro-abortion or pro-gay in the past, please God he will be moved to make a public statement renouncing this position should he become Catholic.

If he does so it may possibly not be something that we outside the UK are made aware of. It’s not like one is required to parade the streets in sackcloth and ashes after all.
 
As far as I understand if you have an abortion or participate in any way in an abortion you excommunicate youself from the Catholic Church. Yet this man is singlehandledly responsibly for thousands, maybe millions of countless abortions throughout Britain and he waltzes right into the religion as if nothing was untoward. Somebody please explain because I dont get it and if anyone asks I couldnt explain it to them.
 
Bresinain said:
Yet this man is singlehandledly responsibly for thousands, maybe millions of countless abortions throughout Britain and he waltzes right into the religion as if nothing was untoward.
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I haven’t seen any evidence that he is “singlehandedly responsible” for any abortions, nor that he has become Catholic. Perhaps you are working from faulty assumptions?
 
Bresinain said:
As far as I understand if you have an abortion or participate in any way in an abortion you excommunicate youself from the Catholic Church. Yet this man is singlehandledly responsibly for thousands, maybe millions of countless abortions throughout Britain and he waltzes right into the religion as if nothing was untoward. Somebody please explain because I dont get it and if anyone asks I couldnt explain it to them.
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This is what is greatly disturbing me as well. As Digi says he isnt exactly “singlehandedly” responsible, yet it cant be denied he was in the highest seat of power and supposed legislation as well as influencing the common man thinking it is ok.

The fact is, apart from a public apology or leaving the political realm all together for him to be a Catholic is a grave scandal and I am very troubled by it. That news article I linked to says he is going to have an interview in a few days, he really needs to make a public apology.
 
The rumored conversion of public figures is a banned topic. Although there have been many news articles about Mr. Blair’s conversion to Catholicism, they are all speculation based on rumor. Mr. Blair’s conversion may be discussed here only after he converts or publicly announces his intention to do so. This thread is now closed.
 
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