I would like to praise Tony Blair for his show of appreciation of the Catholic Church. The fact that he even met the Pope through his own initiative shows some change of heart. I disagree with the idea that people should change before they are accepted into the Church. The Church was made for sinners and I know that God loves the penitent heart. And yes I also agree that the Pope has every right to tell world leaders the views of the Church. He doesn't force people to listen and obey, but he must warn them of the consequences. If not, he will not be doing the job Jesus wanted the Pope to do. I do hope for Tony Blair's conversion though I feel he is ready.

Elaine P., sydney,

Are all the above comments from disciples of Tricky Dicky Dawkins? If they have access to a relatively large reference library they could access either the 1967 "New Catholic Encyclopaedia" or the Millenium Edition of the same, which carry many scientific articles. The one on the web is the 1913 version and has been debased by Dawkins in "The God Delusion" as being rather biased, but then the eugenicists and the Malthusians and the social Darwinists of that period did not cover science with glory.

Gerry Dorrian, Cambridge, England

Good on the Pope. If you want to be a Catholic, than be one. If you join the club, then know and abide by the rules. If you don't want to, then join another club. No one is forcing Tony Blair to become a Catholic!

The religion of the Left - ie. atheism/paganism prescribes to all those 'sacraments' - gay marriage, abortion on demand and unethical research on human embryos. I'm sure they'd love another convert like Blair.

It is utter arrogance that causes people to want to join the Catholic Church when they stand in complete contradiction to its most inherent, fundamental beliefs. I have yet to hear of anyone coverting to the Muslim faith, or to Buddism or any other world religion with the same flagrant disregard for its teachings.

N Hudson, Toronto, Canada

I have to laugh at the secular ignorance of some displayed here.

AIDS/HIV is predominantly spread through promiscuity, drug use and anal sex, things the church is opposed to, yet she is the 'villain'? Sadly, the demographics still fighting with the virus are those who (unfortunately) listen to those secularists who preach at the altar of promiscuity. It is the great tragedy of the modern era. Especially in the viciously secularized West.

Without the Catholic Church we would lose most great art, music and even the concepts of our legal system (innocent until proven guilt) and democracy.

Indeed, more people have been slaughtered in the past 100 years on planet earth due to atheism and communism than ever due to Christianity or Islam.

Really people; put down your Hitchens, your Dawkins and your 10th scotch and read some real history. You will not learn it by watching bad Tom Hanks movies.

Nicol DuMoulin, Toronto, Canada

Who needs another Catholic who doesn't support Church teaching? Not us! He can stay where he is...in the hereteical Anglican church.

The Catholic Church built western civilization...Holy mother Church knows what it's doing. In the end, Catholic moral teaching will be vindicated.

Diane, Houston, TX USA

Tony Blair is a hypocrite. He's nowhere near ready to become a Catholic and I think the Pope told him so.

Cindy, Burgess, Iowa

I am fed up with these religious leaders who believe that they have any "moral" authority over me. The pope does not have to "lecture" a head of state because the laws passed democratically under his leadership do not fit his religion. He can lecture any Catholic if they like to hear that, but this constant lesson-giving to everyone just shows Catholicism is nowhere near to accepting other views -religious our not- but is only capable of tentative bullying, which fortunately no longer works.

Marc, London, UK

I disagree with your comments. I don't feel it is a disgrace that Tony Blair has had a lecture from the pope. As representatives of the church, (any Christian church) We need to protect our children, our families, our society.

I imagine Mr Blair is a great family man, but also as a politician or a citizen, as a man of faith we do have values and morals to protect.

I am sure that many people of no faith, do not agree with same sex marriage, abortion, and Euthanasia etc.

We can see the decline in family life, and the results are seen in so many of our young, sad, lost children, I work with many young people that have been affected by our let anything be society, and it is time for change, to let God be God.

marjie, Manchester,

Conjunction of religion and politics has never been a happy one. Both Bush and Blair are driven by God in their quest to democratise the Middle East. Isn't it ironical to see that Saddam Hussain comes out as the only secular leader of the three?

Michel, London,

It's embarrassing to listen to the uneducated and uninitiated voices here, mindlessly regurgitating religious dogma, whilst issuing thinly disguised threats to those who disagree. (some religion of peace)

This fairytale worship has no place in correct and just ruling. 'The Pope' is entitled to his beliefs, but when he endangers entire continents with his mad rambling nonsense - that condoms should not be used etc., it's time to put a stop to him.

'Heretic' I may be, but at least I can see sense, and wish to protect others through what is clear common sense. Condoms for the world, equal rights for women and gays and legalised abortion. Everything this fairytale worship wishes to ban.

Fraser, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND

Who the hell do these Christians think they are? And more importantly, because its why it happens - why do people think they're so important let them do it?!

I think Popes need lecturing, not the other way round.

Joe, Manchester,

Hello
I despair of religious people , especially Catholics who espouse only self deluding hypocritical rubbish.The Church of Rome has done nothing to advance the human race. They would have us all live in a "dark age"
Perhaps if they cleaned up their own act they would have more credence.

K Lansdowne, Liverpool, UK

Tony Blair will probably have a change of heart, it is happening in the US. More and more people now oppose abortion. When allowed in 1973 it was ruled a medical condition in the first trimester. Effectively, the foetus was not considered a child, but advances in science over the last 30 years now show it is a child and not a medical condition. This is why the debate still rages. Those clamoring for Embryonic Stem Cell research based on curing diseases, will find that as recent research has shown, they can be extracted from adult stem cells. The two debates are linked abortion needs a good cause, as it has no scientific bases to base its decision on Embryonic Stem cells is that cause.
So the Pope not only has Catholic teaching but Science and clear Ethics on his side. Tony Blair willcome to same conclusion.

Peter, Raleigh, USA

Colin's comments about laws concerning abortion, stem-cell research and gay marriage & adoption being "no business" of the pope's is ridiculous! The pope is a worldwide moral leader. It is specifically the pope's duty to provide moral advice. It doesn't matter whether a country is "Catholic" or not - moral truth is absolute (natural law is the same for all people, all places, all times). Elected leaders have free will to ponder that advice and act on it, or to ignore. Nevertheless, the pope must contine to teach, whether people like it or not.

Teresa, Milwaukee,

The Nazis legalized the annihilation of the Jews, also. God's Commandments trump all laws written by man. Thank God for God and Pope Benedict, in persona Christi, who is not afraid to try to save someone's soul, especially souls who support the killing of innocent babies waiting to be born. I wonder, would Colin have sheltered a Jew trying to escape the Nazi laws allowing his slaughter? Or would Colin have said Go away! The Pope does not say Go Away! even to those who support the killing of the innocents. A person's soul is more valuable than any temporary earthly life. Hopefully, Blair will have Pope Benedict to thank some day for his conversion to the culture of life, which will release him from the clutches of the culture of death.

Recovering Feminist, Hudson, USA

The Papacy and the Catholic Church are the world's oldest institution. Even if you don't believe the Church is divinely guided, at least respect the fact that Popes have had to deal with Attila the Hun, Goths, Vandals, Saracens, Normans, Napoleon, Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler and any number of lesser emperors, tyrants and kings. Why shouldn't the Pope say what he thinks to Tony Blair - he does have the historical experience and the spiritual stature to be one person who can speak the truth to the powerful of this world. If our Tony had listed more to JPII and not gone marching into Iraq,he would have saved himself and thousands of others a great deal of grief.

Francis Marsden, Chorley Lancs, UK

The Pope has not only the right but the duty to preach and teach the faith. There is only one Truth and His name is Jesus Christ. The Pope is doing God's will so he does not have to worry about his eternal life. But all those who do not live the life Christ taught us have to worry about our eternal life. The Old and New Testament and the Ten Commandments are the truths we must follow if we are to call ourselves Christian. To Mr. Chase who seems to be very misinformed, everything that involves life is the business of the Pope who is the Vicar of Christ. God gave us life therefore we are His (God's) business.

Maryanne Linkes, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

"the vast majority of the poputation take no intrest whatsoever in religion."
Sorry, I disagree.
You equally might argue:
The vast majority of the population are not gay,
hence they should have no say or special rigfhts whatsoever.

Mr. Ruber, London,

Blair recieved what he deserved:
A serious dressing down.
Was his ambition to become catholic in order to then could dictate catholics what is right and what is wrong?

Mr. Ruber, London,

Good for Pope benedict. I'm glad he put Blair right in these regards. Someone needs to let our leaders know when they fail to uphold the law of God.

Tony Blair can never become a Catholic until he renounces his past support for abortion, stem cell research, gay adoptions and same-sex marriage. For any elements of the Press to have claimed otherwise was always simply due to their wilful ignorance of the Catholic Faith, and could have been avoided.

Chris, St Albans, UK

Those who claim to follow Christ are bound by the law of Christ. England is a Catholic country from its beginnings in the 6th century. Its great Churches and Literature are ours. God has allowed the Anglican heretics to borrow them temporarily. The vicar of God on earth has every right to dictate the terms of obediance and legislations that a country adopts, for God has total dominion, not only over Catholics and heretics, but over all others. The fact that some take no interest in religion or consider it inconsequential is itself inconsequential. They are still bound to obey their creator.

hpotter, boston,

No, what is an absolute disgrace is that the country has lost its moral compass.

Mike Pollard, Rolling Meadows,

His holiness was perfectly right in taking Blair to task on certain issues. How Blair can even consider converting toCatholicism with the track record he has on certain issues important to the Catholic church is beyond belief. Having said that he's not been particularly faithful to Anglican tenets either in the political stances he has taken on moral issues...

Lux, Nancy, France

Mr. Blair does not measure up to the moral requirements to be a Catholic. Probably he asked to be admitted into the Catholic church and was rejected by the Pope. I am very pleased that the Pope made the disapproval of murder and deviant behaviour clear to Blair who obviously lacks the same moral perspective. Mr. Blair will have to make many BIG improvements in his personal character before he can ever hope to be acceptable to the Catholic church.

Peter Tijerina, Chicago, USA

Mr.Blair does not measure up to the moral requirements of the Catholic church and is therefore unacceptable to join it. He needs to make many BIG improvements in his personal character before he can ever hope to call himself Catholic.

Peter Tijerina, Chicago, USA

It boggles the mind that the Pope and Tony Blair could have had any kind of meaningful discussion on all those topics in just 25 minutes! They must have really talked fast.

Mary, Mankat, MN

Your comments are rather grim and If I may say,ignorant.It's true that England is a secular country and is culturally diverse,but the Roman Pontiff when speaking Excathedra has an Infallible moral authority that reaches globally.That Mr.Blair has taken time to visit Benedict and had the courtesy to listen to his ideas is commendable in my opinion.Alot of people world wide are horrifed and disgusted by on demand abortion and the same is true of embryonic research,when science clearly shows both adult and umbilical cord stems are equally if not more effective,Im glad that most thinking people do not have such a hostile and inflexible attitude as yours

mike, Waterford, Ireland

colin chase' commentary was of interest. It is my understanding that Rome, Ejypt and Greece fell due to their perverse cultures. Brits are known for there study of history and yes of the BIble in religion. Dont knock what in your heart you know to be true and anti biggoted commentary of the present culture. History does repeat itself and those in the 'Know' fail to heed the signs of the times.

Boudreau, Reading,

It is an absolute disgrace that an elected prime minister has allowed himself to be lectured by the pope. The laws concerning, abortion stem cell research, gay marrage and adoption are no business of his. They were passed by the elected representatives of the population, and I belive broadly represent the broad consensus of the population. This is not a Catholic country, indeed it is not even a predominatly Anglican country, the vast majority of the poputation take no intrest whatsoever in religion. In fact the majority of people who take the Anglican communion do not even live in this country, they live in Africa.

colin chase, FARNBOROUGH, Hampshire

This pope knows through reason, faith and experience that democracy is no guarantee of the right thing being done. After all he was one of many youngsters forcibly drafted into the army of a tyrant elected by a parliamentary majority.

Once legislation becomes detached from the natural law (The Tao), it loses its moral authority, regardless of the degree of popular support it might have.

Benedict knows that the three pilars that Europe was built on are crumbling. They are: i The spirit of Athens (Greek enquiry where moral truth can be ascertained, the natural law); ii The spirit of Rome, (citizenship and the rule of law); and iii The spirit of Jerusalem (Revelation).

These three are interdependent as a foundation that supports European civilisation. Once one is removed, the whole edifice rots from within and eventually crumbles. (The Poles know this)

Martin Daly, Ballina, Co Mayo., Ireland

Hello:
I very much like Tony Blair. When I heard he might convert, and I know he will. My prayers are with Tony and his journey. I very much feel he will be our new day apostle. God speed Tony Blair.

Barbara Kaminski, Katy, Tx. USA