Mystery as Blair goes to Mass alone
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.TONY BLAIR has been attending Mass on his own at Westminster Cathedral, prompting fresh speculation yesterday that he might be preparing to convert to Catholicism.
Staff at 10 Downing Street insisted he did not plan to convert, although they did admit that he had been to Mass at the cathedral without his wife and their three children.
The Prime Minister, an Anglican, regularly attends Roman Catholic Mass with his family, but it was not previously known that he had chosen to worship in a Catholic church alone.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Though the Prime Minister regularly worships at a Catholic church with his wife and family, he is not converting to Catholicism.
"The only occasion on which he has attended Westminster Cathedral alone arose because he had been at a speaking engagement and his family had attended church earlier."
However, the Press Association, which broke the story, said it had spoken to sources who said they had seen Mr Blair alone in the cathedral, except for bodyguards, "on several occasions" since Christmas.
The news agency said he had been seen at the 6pm Saturday Mass, which is often attended by around 1,000 people, and the Sunday 5.30pm Mass, which attracts up to 700 worshippers.
Constitutional experts were agreed that there was no legal obstacle to having a Catholic prime minister - even though Britain has never had one - and that Mr Blair's role in choosing bishops was in his capacity as prime minister and not in a personal capacity.
Obstacles, however, might be presented by other Catholic worshippers opposed to his stance on abortion.
Phyllis Bowman, a founder of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children and herself a Catholic, said: "You don't join the rugby team if you want to play football.
"Mr Blair has voted in favour of abortion 13 times since he was voted to Parliament in 1984.
"His conscience is his own business but I think his attendance at Mass is hypocritical.
"If he wants to go to Catholic Mass he should embrace its teachings and become a Catholic - and that is incompatible with his political beliefs."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments