{"id":1474,"date":"2007-06-10T18:19:00","date_gmt":"2007-06-10T18:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2007\/06\/deacon-blair.html"},"modified":"2007-06-10T18:19:00","modified_gmt":"2007-06-10T18:19:00","slug":"deacon-blair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2007\/06\/deacon-blair.html","title":{"rendered":"Deacon Blair?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>
Rocco found this nugget<\/a> and posted it at Whispers in the Loggia<\/a>. It seems a little farfetched to me, but stranger things have happened. Key section:<\/i><\/p>\n

Tony Blair has discussed becoming a Roman Catholic deacon when he quits office.<\/p>\n

The revelation comes as he prepares to meet the Pope amid speculation that he will use the audience in the Vatican to announce his conversion.<\/p>\n

In his last foreign engagement, just days before he leaves Downing Street for the final time, the Prime Minister will visit Pope Benedict XVI in what officials say will be a “highly significant” personal mission…<\/p>\n

Reports that he will convert from the Church of England to the Catholic faith of his wife Cherie have often surfaced during Mr Blair’s decade in office.<\/p>\n

The claims were supported by revelations that he has already discussed not only converting to Rome, but also taking a formal lay position within the Church.<\/p>\n

Deacons are just below priests in the Catholic hierarchy and have the right to administer certain sacraments and wear a special white robe known as a dalmatic.<\/p>\n

Mr Blair discussed the idea of his taking such a role with Canon Timothy Russ, priest at the Immaculate Heart of Mary near the Prime Minister’s official country residence, Chequers.<\/p>\n

The revelation is contained in a new book soon to be serialised by The Mail on Sunday \u2013 The Darlings Of Downing Street by Garry O’Connor.<\/p>\n

The book states: “Tony expressed his strong desire when he stepped down to become a deacon \u2013 and a Roman Catholic deacon at that, confirming the often-speculated belief that he would convert to Roman Catholicism sometime in the future.”<\/p>\n

Mr Blair is reported as asking his confidant Father Timothy: “Would this be possible?” He was told: “It usually takes two or three years”, to which he replied: “The fact that I’m PM, could this make a difference?”<\/p>\n

The deacon idea emerged in a conversation a few years ago about Mr Blair’s plans after he leaves office.<\/p>\n

Father Timothy suggested that taking on a formal role in the Church could give him fresh moral clout when he campaigns on climate change and Africa.<\/p>\n

The priest added: “He has a lot of potentiality for good. He is still looking for the meaning in his life.”<\/p>\n

The Blairs stopped attending Mass at the Immaculate Heart of Mary last year for “security reasons”. The relationship with the priest became strained after he spoke out against the Iraq War, accusing the Prime Minister of moral surrender. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As a followup, maybe I could be elected Prime Minister.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rocco found this nugget and posted it at Whispers in the Loggia. It seems a little farfetched to me, but stranger things have happened. Key section: Tony Blair has discussed becoming a Roman Catholic deacon when he quits office. 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