tony blair and religion

Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2007 Solo Syndication Limited

Byline: Sam Greenhill

TONY BLAIR says that God was 'hugely important' in influencing hisdecisions in power, including going to war in Iraq.

The former Prime Minister, who has previously brushed aside religiousquestions, now admits he underplayed his faith out of fear of being seen as a'nutter'.

'If I am honest about it, yes of course it was hugely important,' he said in aninterview for BBC1's The Blair Years. 'There is no point in me denying it, Ihappen to have religious conviction.

I don't actually think there is anything wrong in having religious conviction -on the contrary, I think it is a strength for people.' Mr Blair, who is widelybelieved to be on the verge of converting to Roman Catholicism, said it wasdifficult to be open about faith in Britain, unlike in America where votersexpect their politicians to be comfortable talking about it.

'You talk about it in our system and, frankly, peoand ple do think you're anutter,' he told the BBC programme to be broadcast next Sunday.

He said voters tended to think that religious politicians 'go off and sit inthe corner and & commune with the man upstairs and then come back and say,"Right, I've been told the answer and that's it".' His remarks had a mixedreception.

Damian Thompson, editor of the Catholic Herald, said: 'In the eyes of manyRoman Catholics, Mr Blair is a hypocrite. There was passionate opposition inthe Catholic community to the Iraq war, which Pope John Paul II condemnedunreservedly.' But the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said: 'Mr Blair'scomments highlight the need for greater recognition to be given to the rolefaith has played in shaping our country.' Melanie Phillips - Page 14

Source Citation:"Blair: I kept quiet about God so I wouldn't be seen as a nutter." The Daily Mail (London, England) (Nov 26, 2007): 4. InfoTrac Full Text Newspapers Database. Gale. Long Road VI Form College. 30 Nov. 2007
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Gale Document Number:CJ171792759