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| Vatican hails Blair Church switch | Vatican hails Blair Church switch |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The Vatican has welcomed Tony Blair's decision to become a Roman Catholic. | The Vatican has welcomed Tony Blair's decision to become a Roman Catholic. |
| A spokesman said such an "authoritative personality" choosing to join the Catholic Church "could only give rise to joy and respect". | A spokesman said such an "authoritative personality" choosing to join the Catholic Church "could only give rise to joy and respect". |
| The ex-PM was received into the Church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor. | The ex-PM was received into the Church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor. |
| It comes as research by Christian Research suggests Catholic churchgoers now outnumber Anglicans for the first time since the Reformation in the UK. | |
| Ex-Tory minister Ann Widdecombe - herself a Catholic convert - said Mr Blair's voting record as an MP had often "gone against Church teaching". | Ex-Tory minister Ann Widdecombe - herself a Catholic convert - said Mr Blair's voting record as an MP had often "gone against Church teaching". |
| Mr Blair's wife and children are already Catholic and there had been speculation he would convert after leaving office. | Mr Blair's wife and children are already Catholic and there had been speculation he would convert after leaving office. |
| Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, who led the service to welcome Mr Blair, said he was "very glad" to do so. | Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, who led the service to welcome Mr Blair, said he was "very glad" to do so. |
| 'Joyful moment' | 'Joyful moment' |
| Last year, Mr Blair, who is now a Middle East peace envoy, said he had prayed to God when deciding whether or not to send UK troops into Iraq. | Last year, Mr Blair, who is now a Middle East peace envoy, said he had prayed to God when deciding whether or not to send UK troops into Iraq. |
| And one of Mr Blair's final official trips while prime minister was a visit to the Vatican in June where he met Pope Benedict XVI. | And one of Mr Blair's final official trips while prime minister was a visit to the Vatican in June where he met Pope Benedict XVI. |
| Mr Blair was received into full communion with the Catholic Church during Mass at Archbishop's House, Westminster, on Friday. | Mr Blair was received into full communion with the Catholic Church during Mass at Archbishop's House, Westminster, on Friday. |
| The choice of joining the Catholic church made by such an authoritative personality can only arouse joy and respect Federico Lombardi Vatican spokesman | The choice of joining the Catholic church made by such an authoritative personality can only arouse joy and respect Federico Lombardi Vatican spokesman |
| Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, who is the head of Catholics in England and Wales, said he was "very glad" to welcome Mr Blair into the church. | Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, who is the head of Catholics in England and Wales, said he was "very glad" to welcome Mr Blair into the church. |
| "My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together," he said. | "My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together," he said. |
| Chief Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the Catholic church in Rome shared Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor's "satisfaction". | Chief Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the Catholic church in Rome shared Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor's "satisfaction". |
| "The choice of joining the Catholic church made by such an authoritative personality can only arouse joy and respect," Fr Lombardi added. | "The choice of joining the Catholic church made by such an authoritative personality can only arouse joy and respect," Fr Lombardi added. |
| 'Private matter' | 'Private matter' |
| BBC correspondent David Willey said it had been no secret in Rome that Mr Blair had been taking instruction from a Catholic priest as a prelude to conversion. | BBC correspondent David Willey said it had been no secret in Rome that Mr Blair had been taking instruction from a Catholic priest as a prelude to conversion. |
| He added that the Pope was informed of Mr Blair's intentions prior to his visit to the Vatican in June 2007, shortly before he left office. | He added that the Pope was informed of Mr Blair's intentions prior to his visit to the Vatican in June 2007, shortly before he left office. |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, leader of the Anglican church, wished the former prime minister well in his spiritual journey. | The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, leader of the Anglican church, wished the former prime minister well in his spiritual journey. |
| He said: "Tony Blair has my prayers and good wishes as he takes this step in his Christian pilgrimage." | He said: "Tony Blair has my prayers and good wishes as he takes this step in his Christian pilgrimage." |
| If you look at Tony Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, he's gone against church teaching on more than one occasion Ann Widdecombe | If you look at Tony Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, he's gone against church teaching on more than one occasion Ann Widdecombe |
| Downing Street confirmed the former prime minister had converted but said it was a private matter and it would not comment further. | Downing Street confirmed the former prime minister had converted but said it was a private matter and it would not comment further. |
| But Miss Widdecombe, who became a Catholic in 1993, told the BBC Mr Blair's move raised some questions. | But Miss Widdecombe, who became a Catholic in 1993, told the BBC Mr Blair's move raised some questions. |
| "If you look at Tony Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, he's gone against Church teaching on more than one occasion. On things, for example, like abortion," she said. | "If you look at Tony Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, he's gone against Church teaching on more than one occasion. On things, for example, like abortion," she said. |
| "My question would be, 'has he changed his mind on that?'" | "My question would be, 'has he changed his mind on that?'" |
| Eastern Europeans | Eastern Europeans |
| There has never been a Roman Catholic prime minister of Britain, although there is no constitutional barrier to such a move. | There has never been a Roman Catholic prime minister of Britain, although there is no constitutional barrier to such a move. |
| However, it had in the past been suggested that Mr Blair would wait until after leaving office, to avoid possible clashes such as over his role in appointing Church of England bishops. | However, it had in the past been suggested that Mr Blair would wait until after leaving office, to avoid possible clashes such as over his role in appointing Church of England bishops. |
| A study by the organisation Christian Research has found Church of England services are no longer Britain's most popular form of worship and have been overtaken by Catholic mass. | A study by the organisation Christian Research has found Church of England services are no longer Britain's most popular form of worship and have been overtaken by Catholic mass. |
| The numbers have swelled due to the large number of EU nationals from Eastern Europe who have immigrated to the UK in recent years, it says. | The numbers have swelled due to the large number of EU nationals from Eastern Europe who have immigrated to the UK in recent years, it says. |
| Estimates for church attendances in 2006, based on previous years' figures, reveal 861,800 Catholics attended services every Sunday compared with 852,500 Anglican worshippers. | Estimates for church attendances in 2006, based on previous years' figures, reveal 861,800 Catholics attended services every Sunday compared with 852,500 Anglican worshippers. |