A Genuine Conversion or Act of Perjury?

A Genuine Conversion or Act of Perjury? | Joanna Bogle | Catholic World Report | March 2008

British Catholics continue to debate Tony Blair's entrance into the Church.

There is still considerable fall-out in the United Kingdom from the announcement of former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s conversion to Catholicism.

His formal reception into the Church last December was not unexpected, given that his wife Cherie was brought up a Catholic, the family has long attended Mass together, and their two older boys have been educated at the London Oratory School, one of the best-known Catholic schools in the capital.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, archbishop of Westminster, issued a statement welcoming Blair into the Church: ”My prayers are with him, his wife, and children at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together.”

But Mr. Blair’s long support for the homosexual-rights lobby, his compliance with successive government policies promoting abortion, and the passing by his government of a law legalizing a form of euthanasia all raised unavoidable questions about his commitment to the Church’s teachings.

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Comments

[Justin]

I don't want to be the lonely voice issuing declarations of "discomfort", but I am not particularly comfortable with IP's magazine and blog using "perjury" when questioning Mr. Blair's commitment to the Catholic faith, especially after such a recent conversion.

There are many people who convert to Catholicism each year who still have road blocks to their faith. While I am not commending that, it is an existential reality.

Likewise, there are many politicians who who we all know call themselves Catholic, but their voting records are in contrast with important social concerns of the Church (abortion, euthanasia, etc.).

More, often these politicians find themselves in public places where something that they may not agree with is going on, and we can be tempted to use a logical fallacy of "guilt by association" when offering criticism of them.

I am in no way "weak" on the issues of our Faith, and I would never commend somebody for doing something wrong, or coming into the faith with less than pristine acceptance of the totality of Catholic doctrine (which would require a lot of reading and apprehension).

So, perhaps Blair is less than perfect. But, how does the question of "perjury" help him accept the fullness of Catholic Truth (if he doesn't already)? He just converted to Catholicism--not a "popular" thing. We have a right to question some of his stances prior to becoming a Catholic, but are we using a little bit of "guilt by assoication"? Do we know of any disagreeable policies SINCE he became Catholic?

If not, I find this boarding--if not crossing--presumption.

Again, a little concerned about this.

[Thomas]

I have to say, this public debate of Blair's conversion makes me uncomfortable, as well. I detest much of what he stood for in politics, but I think we need to trust in those who oversaw his entry into the Church. This all seems rather unseemly, to put it mildly.

Now then, if he makes a public sign of support for the same positions that marred his political career, then that's a different matter. I won't push him out of the way of the ton of bricks coming down on his head. Until then, I think we need to assume the best.

[Clavem Abyssi]

I agree with above poster. Perjury, which I take to mean "lying under oath", is a bad word to use here.

Mr.Blair is probably a coward, probably prideful, probably indecisive, etc... but a great many life-long Catholics are those things too, and we don't blast them with the ridiculous charge of perjury.

Comments like these remind me of the prodigal son's bitter older brother's grumblings.

[Charley]

I'm not sure why someone converts to Catholicism if he rejects magisterial authority. It's one thing to be born a Catholic and reject Church authority, but still call oneself a Catholic because that's what you know. It's something completely different to convert to a faith that you, at least in part, reject.

Conversion requires a reason. Whether it's a feeling that the Holy Spirit is guiding you, or reading the Early Church Fathers, or the beauty of the liturgy, etc. There is something that causes you to switch. I guess he thought that out of all the denominations, Catholics are the "least wrong."

Everyone has to start from somewhere. I wish him the best.

[Ed Peters]

I suppose I could find away to call it perjury (assuming a lot of facts not in evidence) but it's a poor choice of words, at this point anyway. Kind of a so-so article at that. A la: "As word spread thorugh the city of Augustine's conversion, hard questions were raised about the sincereity of his action. Agustine has long been a proponent of Maniceianism, he is known to have fathered at least one child with a concubine, and his disregard of his mother, though not technically a crime, leaves many North Afircans wonder, 'Is he for real'?"