The man with a conscience on a time switch
Mr Tony, it would appear, is going to Rome. Shame it is not Canossa.
This is not the place to argue the rights and wrongs of individual faiths, but what is interesting is that Blair's move to Rome has been foreseen for so long, but only now with his term in office nearly over is he going to take the plunge, apparently.
If someone has a a sincere belief in anything, be it a conception of God, a position on abortion, the death penalty or whatever, there comes a time when the spiritual Rubicon is crossed - one believes something that one did not believe before. For Blair to hold on like so, apparently, puts him in the category of those vegetarians who decide that they need just one last steak, or more likely one last hamburger, before taking the step.
This is not the place to argue the rights and wrongs of individual faiths, but what is interesting is that Blair's move to Rome has been foreseen for so long, but only now with his term in office nearly over is he going to take the plunge, apparently.
If someone has a a sincere belief in anything, be it a conception of God, a position on abortion, the death penalty or whatever, there comes a time when the spiritual Rubicon is crossed - one believes something that one did not believe before. For Blair to hold on like so, apparently, puts him in the category of those vegetarians who decide that they need just one last steak, or more likely one last hamburger, before taking the step.
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on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 8:11 am.
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Perhaps His Holiness can engage with Ratzinger on justifying the finer theological points of:
*illegal wars,
*gay marriage,
*the cash-for-peerages scandal,
*interference in a fraud investigation by ending the inquiry into alleged corruption over BAE's arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
*the dark arts of spin, counter-spin, and dodgy dossiers.
One could add further instances of Tony's sins....
This is most baffling. Some cardinals are talking about denying communion to pro-abortionists. Mr Blair has squashed any discussion of any slight change in the rules. Seems there are different rules for the famous.
Your "time switch" argument is flawed, Blair has always been religiously inspired, and has made no secret of it, its not like being "born again".
Widdecombe and Gummer converted because they opposed the ordination of women, they didn't become religious overnight, they picked the church that suited their needs and views, and their current church changed.
Situations change, needs change. Perhaps Blair might think the CofE is a bit too wimpish in its stand against Islamic extremism and has considered Ratzinger's stand a bit more to his liking.
This is not "taking the plunge" as you put it.
If we are to bring divines into this, time for a bit of Augustine:
"Give me chastity and continence, but not quite yet".
Ian, can't say I agree with you there. Yes, he is a practicing Christian, but at some point he has looked into his soul and decided that the way to God is through the Catholic Church, not the Church of England. The whole point of adherence to an individual church is that one is obligated to accept the whole package deal, not those elements that suit, so we have Blair ready, presumably, to accept papal infallibility when the Pope speaks ex cathedra, for example. It is a rather more grave undertaking than changing political parties.
I think we had a discussion some months ago on whether he was or wasn't going to jump - on this issue, and on whether Cherie was to go the way of the Anglican Church in his affections ...
The whole point of adherence to an individual church is that one is obligated to accept the whole package deal, not those elements that suit
Firstly, the "package deal" changes over time, the ordination of women was a big thing for many CofE people and that made people change, in RC we have a new Pope with new ideas and different views on a changing world that can equally influence people's decision.
TBH if you are a Christian who thinks it is time you stood up to the daily slaughter and persecution of your co-religionists by Muslims, then it is understandable that you might think Ratzinger is a far preferable advocate than Rowan Williams.
Secondly, it's not like he's converting to Islam or Buddhism. From a practising perspective the "high church" and RC are very similar, admittedly there are stark theological differences, but are we talking about Blair becoming ordained ?
It is a rather more grave undertaking than changing political parties.
We'll have agree to disagree on that one.
It is ironic that 'the most devoutly Christian prime minister for a century' has done more to undermine Christian liberties than any prime minister for the past three.
He is a fraud, and belongs to Rome. It is where his heart has always been; his professed Anglicanism was just another act - a facade maintained for constitutional reasons.
I recall Verity commenting once that she had leanings towarsd Rome - I wonder if that is still the case
Why did Augustine want to be incontinent?
The Church of England is part of the Catholic Church, orders valid; as are the Orthodox Churches.
He's going to Rome, not to Catholicism.
He couldn't have officially converted while in office because that would have opened a whole can of constitutional worms wouldn't it?
Apparently he and Cherie take private Mass at No. 10.
psmith- Yes. I haven't done anything about it though, but I suspect that at some point, I will.
Even though I hate the thought of being in the same religion of Tony Sleazebag.
How about becoming a Lubavitscher?
I can just picture Reb Blair dressed for the Warsaw winter of 1757.
The gap between his daughter and his youngest son implies either that Toni is not the five-times-a-night sorta guy that Greedie claimed he is, or not a very Roman Catholic sorta guy.
Dearie Me - It doesn't bear thinking of.
"his professed Anglicanism was just another act - a facade maintained for constitutional reasons.": what constitutional reasons, Your Grace? We've had
Presbyterian, nonconformist and atheist PMs. There's no impediment to a Papist.
Well, if he can't arrange a sainthood with Herr Ratzinger, I suppose TB will have to settle for being President of the European Union come 2009....
President of the European Union is Mrs Merkel's next job, never Blair's.
'psmith- Yes. I haven't done anything about it though, but I suspect that at some point, I will.
Even though I hate the thought of being in the same religion of Tony Sleazebag.'
Verity, it will be a test of your Christian charity
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