I'M HOLY BLAIR

Sunday Mirror, Dec 23, 2007 by ADRIAN BUTLER

TONY Blair was welcomed into the Catholic church yesterday... and was immediately plunged into a row about his faith.

The Archbishop of Westminster confirmed that he had performed the final stages of Mr Blair's conversion at a private service on Friday evening.

But the ex-PM came under fire last night from one of the Catholic priests closest to him, who said his conversion would be a "pretence" unless he had changed his views on many issues crucial to the Catholic church.

Many Catholics claim Mr Blair's position during his time in Government on issues like abortion, stem cell research and gay rights was against their religion.

Canon Timothy Russ, who first revealed Mr Blair was planning to convert in 2004, told the Sunday Mirror: "I'm sure he's gone back on them, otherwise he has not really joined the church - it would be a pretence.

"There are a lot of responsibilities to do with becoming a Catholic which he did not show as Prime Minister. It's a life issue. It's the experimentation on embryos. It's abortion. He has not really supported the family."

Mr Blair went through the final initiation rites necessary to join Britain's five million Catholics on Friday in the chapel at the home of the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy- O'Connor. As the final step in his long process of conversion, Mr Blair took full communion as a practising Catholic for the first time.

He would also have performed the "act of reconciliation" - where he confesses all his past sins.

Last night Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said: "I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church." The Pope's spokesman Father Federico Lombardi addedd: "The decision to convert to the Catholic faith by such an esteemed personality can only bring out joy and respect."

The Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said: "Tony Blair has my prayers and good wishes as he takes this step in his Christian pilgrimage."

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell once famously said: "We don't do God," when Mr Blair was asked about his faith, but later admitted "he does do God in quite a big way".

'FORGIVE ME'

FOR listening to Bush and invading Iraq.

FOR being horrid to Gordon from next door.

FOR looking like a Tory, and sounding like a Tory.

FOR inviting celebs to Downing Street to impress my kids.

FOR bringing Peter Mandelson back... for a second time.

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