Tony Blair has killed only a fraction of the amount of people that the catholic church has

No wonder they want to take him under their wing - give him a few pointers on how to up the tally

billyb, Cardiff, Wales

Praise be to God that Tony Blair has returned to the Church Christ himself founded. I pray all of you will let your prejudices fall away and take time to consider the facts. For example, the Anglican Church is roughly 469 years old, the Catholic Church is 2,007 years old. Despite the shortcomings of many individuals that have comprised it throughout that time, the Catholic Church is the only church that can boast existence since the time of our Lord.

To my Anglican brothers and sisters, I say, Merry Christmas and may God bless you! For my non-religious brothers and sisters, I say, Merry Christmas and may God bless you! Don't let your prosperity and comfortable lives lead you to believe you have all you need.

Peace be with you.

Pax Catholica, Los Angeles, California

Phew! I'll bet most Anglicans are relieved!

Gerard Mulholland, Paris, France

God preserve us all. These comments are a shocking testament to the heart of your country. Is there anyone there at all with peace and goodwill to men? Shocked Catholic

fionnuala howard, dublin, ireland

Surprising how few people have considered the political aspect. Tony Blair remains a politician, although he is no longer in Parliament. He has been a politician most of his working life. What he does, and continues to do, will always be considered in terms of its political implication because the latter will necessarily retail into other aspects of his life. We can therefore be sure that his conversion to Roman Catholicism at this time is appropriate to his present political comfort zone.

Henry Percy, London, UK

Blair once again proves that he can hold true to no principles whatsoever

Patrick, London,

Good for Tony Blair, well done to Cherie Blair for bringing her husband back to the true Church. The Holy Catholic Church.

Stuart, London,

A"tone"ment, eh? god will be His judge lol. Does this mean he will now go to heaven whereas before he wouldn't?
Cherie is otherwise intelligent.

Henry Watkins, bangkok, thailand

This is a major logistical blunder for a middle east envoy.

Emma H., Ottawa,

To become President of the EU under the new "constutution", it makes sense for Blair to morph from English Anglican to Scottish Catholic. Now wait for his accent to start changing and for him to discover new interest in his tartan roots. That's the way to get those mainland European votes!

St John, Deepest Norfolk, UK

I suspect its a fashion thing.

David Dredge, norfolk,

Tony Blair...a roman catholic....YAWN....

Graham, London,

Why is this regarded as newsworthy?

John M, Stromeferry, UK

I always suspected the Catholic Church was in league with the Devil, seems like I was right.

Cromwell, Leeds , ENGLAND

I did not realize the UK was still so narrowly minded anti-catholic. Well live and learn

M, Milwaukee, USA

Thanks God, another guy is joining the Churh. Let us help him to love God and to love people.

Gonzalo, Spain,

So what? A slow news day?

David, NZ,

How can anyone buy into this superstitious silliness???????

Bruce L. Northwood, Silver Spring, USA

Mr. Blair has left a church founded by an adulterer, to the true church founded by the Savior of mankind, Jesus Christ.

Jerry, Pittsfield, Mass.

Did he change his views on abortion?

German Catholic, Bayreuth, Germany

To Alan Chapman

I was abused by a CoE Vicar who was married with 3 children, so your reasoning is nonsense.

Marcine, Bham, UK

When i heard this news all I could think was what a coward.

If he had courage of his convictions he should have done this before coming into government or at the very least converting whilst in government. Then he could have challenged the notion that no Catholic can be prime minister, handed the appointment of Anglican bishops to the C of E (or Queen, hardly matters much) and removed the automatic right of 26 or so bishops to sit in the House of Lords (this would be necessary as you could not have an unelected body or person appointing people to sit in the upper chamber otherwise what difference is their to life peerages).

But no, he took the cowardly and weak option to essentially be a catholic but not come out.

Rob, Birmingham, UK

"Blair converts to Catholicism""". Who gives a damn apart from Blair, the Pope and God?

Everybody else is bored stiff of Bliar's escapades and occasional ventures into reality.

Edwin, Bucharest,

Well it might help him deal with all the guilt he must surely feel.

Pierre , Hong Kong, Hong Kong

This fervent believer Bruno Benzi from Cesena (Italy) is another intollerant, selfish Catholic. The pope, with the support of people like him, is trying to bring the Catholic Italy in the Middle Age. We should pay attention to any integralist force, like the Vatican and the catholic church.
(Bruno, you are really intollerant like your church...but I forgive you...You don't know what are you saying)

Pier Paolo, York, UK

"Never think badly of anyone, not even if the words or conduct of the person in question give you good grounds for doing so."
St Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, 'The Way', 442.

Tom Teague, Chester,

During his time as Prime Minister Tony Blair actively took part in the section of Church of England bishops and in one case actually rejected both candidates the church presented. His conversion to Roman Catholicism and his previous leaning to that church seem to indicate that this was not a proper role for him. Perhaps it would be better if in the future the Archbishop of Canterbury took over the PM's role of advising Queen on all matters relating to the church.

Ian Davis, Sydney, Australia

Loadsadosh Blair has to announce his conversion? Why? If he felt any affinity to this greedy and hardhearted 'faith' (remember it was the Quakers who ran the soup kitchens during the Irish potato famine, not the Catholics), why did he not go quietly and with humility?

Surely it was not necessary to take his own trumpet with him?

Will conversion help him to rake in more United States cash for speaking engagements?

Freeloading was bad anough when he denigrated our country by it. He and his avaricious wife, now seem set on turning it into a profession. Profession of faith? Pull the other one.

Charlotte Peters Rock, Knutsford, England

You do all realise that Mr Blair was already, and very openly, a Christian? He has simply changed from the Church of England to the Catholic Church. Whence all this hatred and vitriol? Sadly, reading these comments shows that there is a LOT of ill-informed prejudice against the Church. Do your research before writing such bitter little messages; it says more about the state of your heart than it does about Tony Blair.

It is sad that Mr Blair didn't feel he could be a Catholic Prime Minister. It's not the 1600s anymore; time to afford Catholicism the respect given to all other religions. Whatever mistakes he has made, and I certainly do not agree with every one of his policies, he has always come across to me as an earnest and sincere man, not a cynic, who examines issues from every angle. Think of all the good work he achieved in Africa and Northern Ireland. I wish him all the best in his spiritual life and beyond.

Amy Allen, Manchester,

I'm Catholic by birth. Is it time to leave?

Lux Aeterna, MANCHESTER,

I knew the comments would be full of ignorant, hateful dreck about "religious wars". Has anyone noticed that in the century that just ended tens, perhaps 100 million people were murdered by athiest fanatics trying to build a socialist paradise? Try to get a grip on reality.

Maybe England will be a better place when the pasty'faced post-Christian inhabitants die off and are replaced by Muslims.

Matt , Iowa, The US of mothertrucking A

Thank God he is still Christian!! Conversion to Islam would have been very bad indeed.

Dave, Rutland, USA

"Pope is a former member of the Hitler Youth"- enrolled at 14 after 1939 when membership was a legal obligation but refused to attend meetings, his own father being a staunch anti-Nazi. A cousin was a victim of the Nazi euthanasia programme. I suggest reading the Pope's essay, "Conscience in its Age" with its explicit condemnation of totalitarianism before accusing him in such terms. Blair's conscience is in the hands of his confessor, but if there is any indication that his views on various moral issues have not changed, he can be assured of a very raw welcome into the Catholic fold. There may, of course, be just a studied silence.

Christopher Gillibrand, Brussels, Belgium in exile

Lindsey George Gray: I think you'll find the hymns in catholic and C of E churches are pretty similar. Unlike you respect both religions and I've attended services in both religion's churches.

As for all the yanks who criticise him for being a christian, go and look at your own Republican party and your president's constant religious preachings.

Luke Nicolaides, London, UK

Given its shameful history and the fact the Pope is a former member of the Hitler Youth, I should say the Roman Catholic Church is a very suitable place for an International War Criminal.

Tony Blair says he didn't convert before because he didn't want people to label him as a "religious nutter", good point, for once I agree with Mr Blair, as that is what I would label anyone who actually believes the utter nonsense that is Christianity.

If they want to accept this horrible man into their fold then as far as I'm concerned they're most welcome to him!

Chris Bovey, Totnes, Devon, UK

Catholic by Christmas, Pope by Easter, God by ??

Mike, Beaconsfield,

Many responders apparently need a refresher in the history of Western Civilization. They seem to equate Christianity and pacifism. They cannot understand a Christian head of state going to war. OK, so genuine and intelligent Christians disagree on the morality of the current war, as they have on any number of past wars. But to automatically rule out Tony Blair's Christianity because he led a country into war shows an appalling lack of knowledge of basic theology and of history.

Peter Floyd, Charlotte, USA/ North Carolina

Well done, Tony. You are in the one true Church of Jesus Christ. One day, the whole of England will becaome Catholic again.

Joe Zammit, Paola, Malta

Abdul- Catholicism makes a lot of sense, believing it perfects reason for the creed successfully explains the world and answers to the secret longings of our hearts. Tony has realised this himself. I returned to the Catholic Faith a few years ago and approached it with many theological uncertainties but there is nothing which hasn't been thought through and answered by minds far greater than our own.

Mark , Sutton, surrey

I see references to hypocrisy. the Catholic church is full of hypocrites.

But as we papists say, there is always room for a few more.

mad scot, Brussels, Belgium

Pier Paolo is a poor guy.In italian we say"sei un cretino" If Mr.
Blair has become a catholicit is up to him and his consiece.
However it is easier to be a protestant than to be a catholic.
To be a catholic means that we have to forgive.Sometimes it
is for me difficult to forgive.If I do not forgive I cannot take
communion.

Bruno Benzi, cesena, Italy

Blair's decision to convert to Catholicism is a personal one. For someone who holds such deep beliefs as he has ought to be respected.
In my mind, however, it raises the spectre of separation of Church and State. Here is a man who for ten years presided over the political affairs of his nation who felt unable to follow his spiritual convictions. There have been others before him who were not even Christians so why should in the 21st Century someone be precluded from any position in the land, even soverign or the soverign's consort specifically because they are a Catholic.
It is time for the Act of Succession to be repealed and other such archaic laws that discriminate against someone because of their faith

Tony, Sydney, Australia

Catholics shouldn't send troops to die in wars. It goes against everthing Jesus Christ has preached.

Jesmond, Marsaskala, Malta

Hopefully he will now go and live in a Catholic country.

Jerry, Southampton, England

So Tony is into to medieval mythologies about virgin births and coming back to life after death. Yeeeeesss, well.
He and Archbishop Hukerbee of Arkansas will get along like a buring Bush. (pun intended I think).

Jeremy Sykes, Barnet, HERTS.,

Abdul - for Christians, Jesus was not God (the Father), but rather His son. He died, but was raised to life again by the God who creates all life, and is now with Him in heaven. It is through His messenger, the Holy Spirit, that He communicates with mankind, and gives those who want it the miracle of re-birth into a living relationship with Him, an with this the possibility of heaven.

If you only know a tiny fraction of what another belief system teaches, then it will most likely not add up for you. I hope this has explained things for you. If you want to know more, you can read it in the Bible.

And God bless you.

David, Bristol, England

Well, Merry Christmas from a Papist and Catholic apologist in the US. I have come to expect the schismatics to express their protestantism in this fashion. We didn't ask you to leave for good. Luther didn't intend for you to be outside the Church forever. I invite you back to the Faith in all sincerity. 2000 years is a long time ... and mistakes have been made by people in the Church... no one doubts that. But to hate the sin is one thing... to hate the teachings of the Church is quite another. Near as I can tell, it's the only institution which doesn't bend to pop cult-ure. I wonder if that's because Truth is timeless. Anyway, I do wish all of my Christian Brothers and Sisters in Baptism a Merry Christmas: may we one day reconcile our differences and be made whole as the Body of Christ on Earth.

Yours.
Matt

Matt O;Coileain, New Berlin, WI, USA

I assume his next move will be to cross the House and join the Conservative Party.

Robin Smith, Bedford, England

Why would they want this war monger? Has he apologised yet? Does the Church want to extend the war against its unbelievers? Good riddance!

oldasiahand, Guildford, UK

Hope he's got his own personal confessional, he'll spend a great deal of time there if he confesses all of his sins

Thorrun, Brentwood,

I voted for this geezer, but always suspected some of his motives. Turns out he is a Crusader, lining us all up for retribution by creating a terrorist backlash, not to forget the amount of extra money out of our pockets and into the police pockets to pay for it.
It fails me to understand how a seemingly intelligent person has not figured out this god and religious nonesense, but it certainly explains his aggressive streak.

Dave Madley, Poole, Dorset, England

OK, yes, finally an RC - but when is going he to become a Christian?

dominic, Teddington, Middlesex

Do Catholics believe that Jesus was God, and then he was crucified and as a result he (God) died on the cross? Some thing does not add up...

Abdul, London,

The article stated that Mr. Blair did not want to convert to Catholicism due to the British public not wanting their politicans expousing their religious beliefs while in office. If the British people are not worried about the religious beliefs of their leaders, why do they have a religious test for their head of state, the monarch? If religion and government does not mix, then why does the British government still continue to support the Church of England using tax payer dollars? I believe its a double standard to criticize the U.S. poliiticans on their religious stances, while the U.K has church sponsored religion. Why don't the UK follow the U.S. lead and have a Catholic, Mormon, or Evangelical leaders?

Rodney Ogden, Corning, Arkansas

I wonder what Mr Ian Paisley thinks about this?
I imagine the same as those who were up in arms about his role as a PM who brought in Gay Civil relationships and adoption for Gay couple..

john, durham,

John Castro,"but has he really been born again?" All Roman Catholics are born again each year. It's called Lent.

David B. Monier-Williams
Scottsdale, Az.

David b. Monier-Williams, Scottsdale , US Arizona

Why there is always danger from those who hold strong religious beliefs like Blair, Bush and Bin Laden?

May be a prerequisite for a first European President or realistically goes well with the 'Bible Belt' in America, and a few more invitations in the lucrative lecture circuit there.

Gary Smith, LONDON,

The list of hypocrisy.
Publically supported more female MPs at Westminster
Joins a branch of the Christian faith that denies all women attaining the rank of ordained clergy.
When PM made great play on family life and values.
Now joins a church were all Roman Catholic priests cannot marry and have no (legal) children.
This I believe has lead to such a disgaceful amount of child abuse within the Roman Catholic church among it's priesthood - the total denial af natural relations with members of the opposite sex. I also believe this hetrosexual denial has substantially increased the degree of homosexuality within the Roman Catholic clergy. A hiding place for "gay" men!
However duplicity, deception and false piety appeared to abound freely from our former political leader. Attitudes of spin flowed constantly from most members of his cabinet and close advisers, eventually many of them obligingly resigned or were sacked. Many falling on their swords to save the ultimate hypocrite.

ALAN CHAPMAN, BINGLEY, UK

There is only one reason Tony Blair has decided to convert to Catholicism - he hopes to be proclaimed a saint and get a title Saint Tony.

Bess, Uppsala, Sweden

To Mitch, Wolverhampton: where was your concern when Sadam was gassing the kurds and feeding his political opponents into the grinders

I'll tell you about your concerns..... "that was no problem".

Tony Blair nor George Bush is responsible for 1/2M Iraqis death ........ Better you take that allegation to al qaeda and or other terrorist.

Hotspur, ATL, USA

What a pity Tony Blair didn't choose to reveal his belief in Catholicism before or during his appointment as Prime Minister. Either he would have been unable to take up the post or would presumably have had to resign forthwith; re-igniting the debate concerning the unfair and discriminatory exclusion of Catholics from this position and very possibly resulting in a profoundly different political landscape ro that which now exists. Would Brown have taken us to Iraq? One can only speculate how much the timing of this announcement has been governed by pragmatism and convenience. The master of both having his cake and eating it, yet again, causes us to ask how much of ‘a pretty straight kind of guy’ he really is.

Harry Osbourne, Preston, Lancashire

How convenient. The Vatican would never have permitted the first European President to be a Protestant. The sham continues. Watch this space......

Chris R., London, UK

So Tony Bliar (sic) has been received into the Catholic Church ? His support for an illegal American war (500,000 + dead, the figure rising daily) , pro-abortion stance and anti-family policies are completely at odds with Christian principles. Is the Church that desperate for new members that it will simply overlook this ?

Dave, Cardiff,

Hey, Jonathan of Guildford, did you see the bit about the profession of faith? Do you know what that is? If you do, what gives you the right to speculate on whether he "meant" the words he professed?

Generally, it's inappropriate to speculate on someone's confession. Confession in its Catholic meaning is a sacrament, not something that entails going on the Beeb or Radio Four and choking up for the entertainment of the masses.

Patricia, Colorado, USA

As I understand it, following Mr Blair's baptism as an Anglican and his wife's as an RC, both underwent a Mayan rebirthing ceremony in Mexico whish would seem to make them pagans. How has the Cardinal dealt with that, I wonder?

Brian D Finch, Glasgow,

and this guy was your PM?? how Middle Agesish...

Matt, irgenwo,

"Mach Schabbes davon!", my partner's grandfather used to say sarcastically, as in: "Big deal!".

After messing up Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Labour Party as well for good measure, Tony Blair can never atone enough for what he did, just to show off in front of Dubya. Read Philip Roth's satire on Nixon and his coterie "Our Gang" over the holidays. Says it all.

Julia Iskandar, London, England

Didn't he go to the Durham Choristers School? How could he leave the glorious music of the Church of England for the tuneless and lugubrious moanings of the Catholic Church?

Lindsay George Gray, Owen Sound, Canada

I don't consider myself very religious, but you people take the cake! Such vitriol directed at someone just because he's joined the religion he believes in. And it's obviously something he's given a lot of thought to... not some spur of the moment decision.

I wonder when religion came to be in such bad taste in England.

gb, Austin, USA

It's incorrect to say he "converted". As someone who is already baptised, he is already a Christian. He has been received into the Catholic Church which means that he is now a member of the one true Church of Jesus Christ and can now enjoy the fullness of the faith and all the graces that go with it.

Mike, Rome, Italy

Tony may have converted to Catholicism, but has he really been born again? (John 3 v 5-8).

Jonathan Castro, Guildford, UK

Tony Blair the Catholic Crusader with his Christian Evangelical ''partner'' has been & CONTINUES to be responsible for the latest Crusade against the Infadil --- THOUSANDS have died --- COUNTRIES have been DEVASTATED---- but --- Jesus Loves them both -- he loves us but he needs more Depleated Uranium to contaminate the Middle East ?????

The stupidity of believing in a Creator of the Universe leaving those ''Scripture messages'' with prophets long long ago & in 2007 some people actually believe in the mumbo jumbo & Religious Wars still continue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shame on England & Tony Blair !!!!!!

Mathew Nevile, Miami, Florida USA

I am not religious but I admire Tony Blair for having done so, whether it be Catholic, Muslim, Orthodox or Buddhist - and in contrast to most of your correspondents whose only conviction is that they have none.

Paul Sant-Cassia, Durham, UK

Ho Ho - we know who the real boss is don't we?

Bill Bird, Wallasey, Wirral

So he converted from Christianity to Christianity? Big step.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

Another man that believes in fairy tale!!!! Another delusion comes from Tony Blair.
Anyway, Mr Blair is also a very impressive hypocrite.
During his time in power he did a lot of things against catholic principles.
in my view, a politician cannot be a deply believer, in fact his/her credo can influence his7her political decision: this is a very dangeorous thing for the freedom of a country.

Pier Paolo, York, UK

I wouldn't want to hear his confession and how do you atone for half a million dead Iraqis??.

mitch, Wolverhampton, England

Its a serious worry when a past prime minister is this way inclined (or is it all done to suit his own purposes?).

Billy Bop, london, uk