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Blair calls on Vatican to rethink views on gays

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Published Date: 09 April 2009
TONY Blair has said the Vatican should rethink "entrenched" attitudes towards homosexuality, claiming its views on gay rights were out of step with those of ordinary Roman Catholics.
In an interview with the gay lifestyle magazine Attitude, the former prime minister disagreed with the Pope's stance and argued most Catholics would have a more tolerant approach to homosexuality.

His comments, published yesterday, are a challenge to the Vatican which remains opposed to gay marriage and decrees that homosexual acts are sinful. Last year, Pope Benedict XVI sparked fury in the gay community when he suggested that homosexuality was as big a threat to humankind as the destruction of the rain forests.

Mr Blair, who converted to Catholicism after leaving Downing Street in 2007, said views on homosexuality had to keep "evolving".

He added: "There is a huge generational difference here. There's probably that same fear amongst religious leaders that if you concede ground (on homosexuality], because attitudes and thinking evolve over time, where does that end? You'd start having to rethink many, many things."





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  • Last Updated: 08 April 2009 10:32 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Roman Catholic church
 
1

Bemused and above it all,

09/04/2009 01:21:48
Wow, thats it solved, centuries of homophobia by the biggest organised same sex abusing ring in history, but Tony Blair syas 'c'mon chaps, your views are a bit dated!' and its solved????
2

,

09/04/2009 01:49:55
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3

H.O.G. Since 1998,

09/04/2009 04:08:26
#2 Jude

Makes sense to anyone with a brain.
4

Danson,

09/04/2009 05:01:47
Tony Blair is correct. When it comes to sexual morality the Catholic church doesn't have a leg to stand on. There is nothing wrong with two consenting adults of the same sex having a sexual relationship with each other. There is, however, something very wrong with paedophile priests being moved from parish to parish.
5

Tussler,

09/04/2009 05:22:55
#2 Jude
"putting one's dilly in a poo hole'

Yuk! that sounds disgusting.
6

,

09/04/2009 08:18:44
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7

billengland,

09/04/2009 08:22:55
The Vatican should rethink its views on Blair. There is no place in any religion for an unrepentant murderer.
8

Toast,

09/04/2009 08:43:30
Its view on contraception are miles out of line with almost all the catholics I know.
9

Boy Wonder,

09/04/2009 08:50:11
And Blair didn't say this during his tenure as PM because ....
10

aljok.23,

the world 09/04/2009 09:24:11
and the vatican said ," f-0ff ya wee buftie"?
11

danbob,

09/04/2009 09:38:25
The problem with christian religion is when the churches ignore the biblical scriptures and start wondering off and doing their own thing. Here's a few facts. The bible condemns Homosexuality and abortion. It makes no mention of using contraception, That is a personal choice. It also states that elders or religious leaders should be upstanding married men not cellibate priests (Heres the proof) so why does Rome insist on single celibate priests? Nearly everything the Catholic church preachs is scripturely wrong.

(1 Timothy chapter 3 verse 1)If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work. The overseer should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach,  not a drunken brawler, not a smiter, but reasonable, not belligerent, not a lover of money,  a man presiding over his own household in a fine manner, having children in subjection with all seriousness;  (if indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of God’s congregation)
12

Scimitar1,

09/04/2009 09:44:47
Tony Blair should be kicked out the RC he's an embarrassment.
13

,

09/04/2009 10:10:28
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14

Number 6,

Germany 09/04/2009 10:26:19
I've got it Tony, why don't you start your own religion.
"New Catholisism". I'm sure your American friend's can
rustle you up a "ready to exploit" congregation at the drop of a hat.
15

Mcsnagpile,

09/04/2009 10:45:54
Like all religions lost in the mist of time talking about people walking about in their shirt tails, riding camels and donkeys, and herding sheep—they were out of date before they were written.. We do not need books telling us how to dress, eat, behave, and that includes Cosmos, and Mans Health Mags.

God made Homosexuals to suffer, be executed, and sent to the land of burning Poo holes.
16

,

09/04/2009 12:21:04
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17

TWC,

09/04/2009 12:36:06
I'm not an RC but when a Johnny come lately joins in anything, you'd think Tony would have known the Doctrine when he joined.
The Catholics should throw him out again. They take the same risks in accepting Anglicans cause they will be just as difficult when they don't like something in the RC church as they were in the Anglican church.
BTW there are some pretty weird posts on here.
18

Observer,,

Glasgow 09/04/2009 13:06:49
17 Not only do some heterosexual couples enjoy an'al sex as described by poster 2, but some do it with the lights on ! Let's see how long this post will last :)

11 The bible does not in point of fact condemn abortion from the point of conception as the Church does. That was a later invention that was tagged on, like celibacy of Priests etc. Hark at me ! As if any of it were true, but at least they should try and be consistent.
19

Jay Kay,

09/04/2009 13:09:01
Now theres a photo shoot Ok magazine forgot to get, the devil himself in an audience with the ex-nazi pope bloke.
20

Calum Crubag,

09/04/2009 14:17:08
Stuff all the churches and their superstitions.
21

common sense voice,

09/04/2009 14:20:28
some men have golf, others football / rugby / stamps / DIY...

others... religion and that other one... politics.. bampots who just want to tell others what to do and take back handers ... in the name of God indeed ..

19.. indeed, start off with baby oil and after a while it goes in pretty easily.. we all do it don't we?
22

Walter McDermott III,

Aberdeen, Wiconsin 09/04/2009 15:27:32
The Vatican is right on this one. Man shall not sleep in the bed of another. (Leviticus 1).

These ungodlike practices are a big part of society's moral corruption. Here in the USa it is not tolerated. I heard a story about some countries in Europe, where these gays can actually get married!!

Incredible.
23

FLUB,

a rocky outcrop in eastern central Scotland 09/04/2009 16:25:23
People, people stay on the subject. I'm no fan of the RCC, but the subject of this article is not Timothy, it's Tony Blair.

Why is he sticking up for the sodomites? Has he a plan?

I think we should be told.
24

Media at One,

09/04/2009 17:23:41
Religion can be pretty confusing sometimes. Tony Blair is a man of catholic faith and he is asking the very church that represents that faith to change their views on homosexuality.
Here is the thing, the RCC has their view on gay people and Tony Blair must tow the line. How can he ask them to change their views? He is either catholic or he is not. If Tony Blair has a problem with the way in which the RCC perceive gay people then he must walk away from the RCC and find a new faith, hence he must protest as he is now, but with action not words.
As a politician Tony Blair understands that people cannot vote for a political party that does not represent their views, how then, can he attach himself to a religious group that does not represent his views? Surely he must move on?
25

Observer,,

Glasgow 09/04/2009 17:33:41
22 I was speaking theoretically.

25 The RC church appear to object to any form of sexual activity which cannot lead to conception. Although they don't seem to have any particular strictures against lesbianism. Perhaps like Queen Victoria they are unaware of it's existence. However I think it will be a cold day in hell beofore they change their views on family planning because their whole raison d'etre appears to be to expand the population unto infinity.


26

Observer,,

Glasgow 09/04/2009 17:41:24
27 Tony Blair converted to catholicism, and now he wants to tell them what to do. Perhaps he thinks that the Pope is the equivalent of Neil Kinnock and it's time to move over to make way for him ?
27

Media at One,

09/04/2009 18:52:51
When god is no longer socially acceptable we will have true freedom. But that day is still a long way off. Science will deliver us to a place in which we are all gods capable of creating life in our image.
But for now the need for a god is important for some people and that must be respected.
28

,

09/04/2009 19:43:02
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29

WL,

livingston 09/04/2009 20:45:51
I do not think that the Roman Catholic Church changed it's views on homosexuality since 2007. So, what is Broon complaining about?
If he does not like its views now, why had he no problem with them 2 years ago????
30

Horrible Cankers @Cyber Shebeen,

09/04/2009 20:49:52
24...Aye yer no kiddin...it has a field day on here even when the Free Hootsman posters are nowhere in sight!...fizzin up and foamin at the mooth...ye can almost hear it stampin its foot......think it his visions o' Free Hootsman parties...champagne glasses clinkin..music and laughter..an its no there...and ye's are aw talkin aboot it......snigger...
31

ThePeter,

Glasgae 09/04/2009 21:03:47
If i was to saying this is the pot calling the kettle black, will someone accuse me of being racist???
32

,

09/04/2009 21:16:25
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33

Media at One,

09/04/2009 22:07:46
Has everyone missed the most important issue here? Blair is asking the RCC to review their stance of homosexuality. This is absurd, surely it doesnt matter if they review their stance, he cannot be represented by an organisation that does not represent his ideals and must therefore protest as people did in times gone by. He must leave the RCC, end of story!
This whole story is interesting as it is similar to a person who is non racist asking a friend to remove the sign on their gate that says "no blacks allowed" even if the sign is removed, the person who owns the gate is still anti black - now if your views are against that of the gate owners you cannot possibly be friends with them.
Blair needs to move on, he needs to write to the vatican and tell them he is looking for a new faith.
34

danbob,

09/04/2009 22:32:43
Teflon Tony and his grasping wife need to reflect on his illegal wars, His lies, and his wifes grabbing of the £10,000 for turning up from a kids charity in Australia. And then read this.

(James 2 verse 26) Indeed, as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
35

danbob,

09/04/2009 22:35:42
Or this even.


(Matthew 6 verse 24)
No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. you cannot slave for God and for Riches

36

Horrible Cankers @Cyber Shebeen,

09/04/2009 22:38:35
37...Codswallop...it aint because its the name of a "Troll site" but because the Scotsman are attempting to ban the maniac psycho troll from posting...as they are the culprit using it all the time to troll people and cause havoc....didnt you know that?..heh heh heh.....
37

,

09/04/2009 23:38:49
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38

donald,

glasgow 10/04/2009 06:04:05
From New Labour to New Catholicism.
39

billengland,

10/04/2009 07:04:30
#43

Fortunately, Bliar isn't wearing lace frocks yet, but he is certainly a good candidate for Catholic priesthood.
40

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 10/04/2009 14:46:01
Tony has clearly lost the plot or thinks he's about to be canonised for putting up such a great idea.

Pope: memo to self. Must get rid of this troublesome priest.

 

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