Criticism For Blair Over Conversion
Updated:19:21, Saturday December 22, 2007
Tony Blair's conversion to Catholicism has been criticised by commentators who argue his views as PM were at odds with church teachings.
Tony Blair has met Pope BenedictMr Blair was welcomed into the Roman Catholic church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor - leader of the Roman Catholics in England and Wales.
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor welcomed the politician's personal decision, which culminated in the ceremony at the chapel of the Archbishop's House in Westminster.
He said: "For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion."
The move comes after years of speculation that Mr Blair, whose wife Cherie and four children are Catholic, would convert from Anglicanism after he resigned from Number 10 in June.
Converting while in office would have caused him problems in connection with issues such as abortion, contraception, homosexuality and faith schools.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) reacted with surprise to the news.
