Saturday, July 6, 2013

Tony Blair pays tribute to father confessor who converted him to Rome

?But even if he resigns or whatever, I doubt he has the 'necessary? to join the Catholic Church. It is always a work of grace. He would probably have a lot going for him, but he also has to change a lot.?

The priest, who died last Saturday after a short illness, regularly conducted Mass for Blair and his family in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. Cherie Blair is a lifelong Catholic and her husband agreed to raise their children in the faith when they married.

?He was a lovely, gentle and immensely kind priest, with a great intellect and interest in the world,? Blair tells Mandrake. ?Much loved by all his parishioners.?

Fr Russ said at the time that he felt Blair had ?some way to go? on important moral issues before he converted. He had earlier criticised him over his policy on war in Iraq.

He accused him of ?moral surrender? after the Blairs had attended Mass in his church. ?Man must live by the will to integrity rather than the will to power,? he told a tabloid. ?The prime minister is caught up in the will to power game ? and that is his problem.

?He has had a moral surrender from his past. His positions have changed over the years???He may not like me very much for telling you, but it is my job to try to speak the truth from God.?

A Requiem Mass will be said for Fr Russ next Wednesday in Great Missenden.

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Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/579313/s/2e3bf08b/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cnews0Cpolitics0C10A160A60A90CTony0EBlair0Epays0Etribute0Eto0Efather0Econfessor0Ewho0Econverted0Ehim0Eto0ERome0Bhtml/story01.htm

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