Blair

'may become deacon'
A NEW BOOK has fuelled renewed speculation that Tony Blair will convert to Catholicism and become a deacon when he resigns from office.
The revelation has come as the Prime Minister begins to prepare himself for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI, his third visit to the Vatican in four years.
It is alleged in The Darlings of Downing Street by Garry O'Connor that Mr Blair held several discussions with Fr Timothy Russ, the priest at the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which is close to his official country retreat of Chequers, over the possibility of him becoming a deacon.
Fr Russ suggested that Mr Blair would be given greater moral clout on the world stage after he steps down as Prime Minister later this month if he were to take on a formal role within the Church such as a deacon, to which Mr Blair allegedly replied, "Would this be possible?"
When told by Fr Russ that "it usually takes two or three years", Mr Blair, according to the Mail on Sunday. is supposed to have asked: "The fact that I'm PM, could this make a difference?"