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Tony Blair joins Catholic faith
BBC ^

Posted on 12/22/2007 5:07:27 AM PST by Sub-Driver

Tony Blair joins Catholic faith Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has converted to the Catholic faith.

His wife Cherie is a Catholic and there had been speculation that he would convert to Catholicism from his Anglican faith after leaving office.

Mr Blair's official spokesman confirmed he had converted on Friday night and said it was a private matter.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said he was "very glad" to welcome Mr Blair, who is now a Middle East peace envoy, into the Catholic Church.

'Nutter' fear

One of Mr Blair's final official trips while prime minister was a visit to the Vatican in June where he who met Pope Benedict XVI.

Downing Street refused to comment on his conversion, saying it was a family matter.

Earlier this year, the former prime minister told the BBC that he had avoided talking about his religious views while in office for fear of being labelled "a nutter".

His ex-spokesman Alastair Campbell once told reporters "We don't do God," but has since said that his former boss "does do God in quite a big way".

Regular worshipper

Mr Blair was received into full communion with the Catholic Church by Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor during Mass in the chapel at Archbishop's House in Westminster.

The cardinal said: "I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church.

"For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion.

"My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blair; catholic; conversions; convert; tonyblair
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1 posted on 12/22/2007 5:07:29 AM PST by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver

Good for him!


2 posted on 12/22/2007 5:10:29 AM PST by vladimir998 (Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. St. Jerome)
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To: Sub-Driver; All

Chalk one up for the true Church


3 posted on 12/22/2007 5:10:54 AM PST by britt reed (It's better to eat crumbs as free man than to eat cake as slave.)
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To: Sub-Driver
Welcome home Tony.
4 posted on 12/22/2007 5:11:01 AM PST by big'ol_freeper ("Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Sub-Driver
What's the compare/contrast between Anglican and Catholic?

Legitimate question.

5 posted on 12/22/2007 5:11:20 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true.)
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To: knarf
What's the compare/contrast between Anglican and Catholic?

Legitimate question.

It's what happens when government decides to do religion.

6 posted on 12/22/2007 5:12:34 AM PST by britt reed (It's better to eat crumbs as free man than to eat cake as slave.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Grrr... papistry....

In all honesty, what is the difference between the Anglican faith and being Catholic? Besides listening to the Pope and all.


7 posted on 12/22/2007 5:13:07 AM PST by Bastiat_Fan (Please don't call me a PaulTard... Surrender Monkey is so much more pleasing to the ears!)
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To: Sub-Driver

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/blairerc321.html

LONDON - 22 December 2007
Tony Blair becomes Catholic

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was received into full communion with the Catholic Church by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor. This took place during Mass in the chapel at Archbishop’s House, Westminster yesterday - it was announced this morning.

Mr Blair has been receiving doctrinal and spiritual preparation from Mgr Mark O’Toole, the Cardinal’s private secretary.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor commented: “I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church. For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion.”
“My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together.”

The Reception of baptised Christians into full communion with the Catholic Church is a liturgical rite by which a person who is already baptised is received into full communion with the Catholic Church. The rite normally takes place within the celebration of Mass.

A baptised Christian who wishes to become a Catholic receives doctrinal and spiritual preparation adapted to individual pastoral circumstances.
A pastoral discernment is made regarding the length of catechetical formation required for each individual candidate for reception.
The rite involves making a profession of faith.

It is part of the office of the diocesan Bishop to ensure that those to be received are properly formed and welcomed into the Catholic Church.

Before the profession of faith and reception the candidate should make a confession of sins. They are asked to inform the confessor that they are to be received into full communion.

At the reception a candidate should be accompanied by a sponsor.


8 posted on 12/22/2007 5:13:38 AM PST by iowamark
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To: Sub-Driver

WOW! Great news!


9 posted on 12/22/2007 5:14:06 AM PST by NewCenturions ('S mòr mo mhulad, 's mòr.)
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To: Bastiat_Fan; All

Popery or is it Pot-pourri?


10 posted on 12/22/2007 5:14:12 AM PST by britt reed (It's better to eat crumbs as free man than to eat cake as slave.)
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To: britt reed

“Chalk one up for the true Church”

Trying to start a fight on Saturday morning?


11 posted on 12/22/2007 5:16:21 AM PST by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)
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To: Sub-Driver

I don’t blame how. Its hard to see how anyone with real faith could belong to a Church that has (apparently) lost faith in itself.


12 posted on 12/22/2007 5:18:50 AM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: knarf
What's the compare/contrast between Anglican and Catholic?

Legitimate question.


Well, for starters, the Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, while the Queen is the head of the Church of England. One is elected, one is not.

It will be interesting to see a man who once expressed to his mistress his wish to be her tampon become the leader of the Anglican faith.
13 posted on 12/22/2007 5:19:27 AM PST by Apparatchik
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To: Poser; All
“Chalk one up for the true Church”

Trying to start a fight on Saturday morning?

Qui? Moi?

14 posted on 12/22/2007 5:19:40 AM PST by britt reed (It's better to eat crumbs as free man than to eat cake as slave.)
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To: knarf
The Catholic church says that that the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches have valid bishops and clergy in apostolic succession, and, therefore, valid sacraments.

On a doctrinal level, it is clear that the Church of England has willfully abandoned the Gospel and embraced modernism.

15 posted on 12/22/2007 5:20:48 AM PST by iowamark
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To: britt reed

True Church?

Flame bait?


16 posted on 12/22/2007 5:22:37 AM PST by Fzob (In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Jefferson)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: Fzob; All
True Church?

Flame bait?

I prefer Petrine to Pauline. It is the choice of the Guy at the top.

18 posted on 12/22/2007 5:30:21 AM PST by britt reed (It's better to eat crumbs as free man than to eat cake as slave.)
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To: Sub-Driver

I am happy to know that Tony Blair takes his religious beliefs seriously.


19 posted on 12/22/2007 5:32:58 AM PST by syriacus ( 30,000 Americans died in 30 months in Korea under Truman, who had abandoned S Korea in 1949.)
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To: Apparatchik
Well, for starters, the Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, while the Queen is the head of the Church of England.

Good thing a PM is neither! ;-)


One is elected, one is not.

Of course, mixing politics and religion is probably a bad thing all 'round!

20 posted on 12/22/2007 5:34:07 AM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: Jim Noble
What's the compare/contrast between Anglican and Catholic?

The homosexual clergy in the Anglican church don't lie about it.

or such secular groups as Scout leaders, little league coaches, school teachers, etc, etc.

21 posted on 12/22/2007 5:34:42 AM PST by britt reed (It's better to eat crumbs as free man than to eat cake as slave.)
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To: Fzob
Since Mr. Blair has been received into her, he must feel she is the True Church. Can we look at it that way, so to avoid a flame war this close the celebration of the birth of Christ?
22 posted on 12/22/2007 5:35:05 AM PST by Talking_Mouse (O Lord, destroy Islam by converting the Muslims to Christianity.)
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To: Jim Noble; All
Apologies to all RC FReepers, post #17 was stupid and mean, I posted it in a moment of weakness and have asked for it to be removed.

Have a blessed Christmas.

23 posted on 12/22/2007 5:35:40 AM PST by Jim Noble (Trails of trouble, roads of battle, paths of victory we shall walk.)
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To: Bastiat_Fan
"In all honesty, what is the difference between the Anglican faith and being Catholic? Besides listening to the Pope and all."

Well, a valid Apostolic succession, for one thing. Being part of the Church Christ founded, for another. And yes, Virginia, at one time I WAS Episcopalian.

24 posted on 12/22/2007 5:35:51 AM PST by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel-NRA)
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To: britt reed

I dunno, I can never keep up on my Catholic slurs. It seems as if there’s a new one every week. Or were you talking about the scented flowers my gf insists on sticking in my bathroom? It’s all so dang confusing, too much for my leetle brane.


25 posted on 12/22/2007 5:37:07 AM PST by Bastiat_Fan (Please don't call me a PaulTard... Surrender Monkey is so much more pleasing to the ears!)
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To: Sub-Driver
What it means is that Mr Blair knows we must now choose sides. In his mind this is what he needed to do before all hell breaks loose. As of now I believe that Mohamed has surpassed Jack as the most used name at birth in all of Brittan, and that means hell is coming FAST... did I mention that its time to choose sides?
26 posted on 12/22/2007 5:40:05 AM PST by Camel Joe (liberal=socialist=royalist/imperialist pawn=enemy of Freedom)
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To: Sub-Driver; iowamark

Tony Blair..swims both the Tiber and the Tigris....not too shabby a legacy....


27 posted on 12/22/2007 5:51:55 AM PST by ken5050
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To: Bastiat_Fan
I dunno, I can never keep up on my Catholic slurs. It seems as if there’s a new one every week. Or were you talking about the scented flowers my gf insists on sticking in my bathroom? It’s all so dang confusing, too much for my leetle brane.

Pot-pourri or incense?

I never liked the anti-Catholic "Popery" or "Papist" thing.

28 posted on 12/22/2007 5:53:07 AM PST by britt reed (It's better to eat crumbs as free man than to eat cake as slave.)
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To: britt reed
A quote from Dickens's Oliver Twist:

"He's a rum dog. Don't he look fierce at any strange cove that laughs or sings when he's in company!" pursued the Dodger. "Won't he growl at all, when he hears a fiddle playing! And don't he hate other dogs as ain't of his breed! Oh, no!"

"He's an out-and-out Christian," said Charley.

This was merely intended as a tribute to the animal's abilities, but it was an appropriate remark in another sense, if Master Bates had only known it; for there are a good many ladies and gentlemen, claiming to be out-and-out Christians, between whom, and Mr. Sikes's dog, there exist strong and singular points of resemblance.

29 posted on 12/22/2007 5:54:04 AM PST by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: knarf
Knarf,

A good question.

The roots of Anglicanism are solidly Protestant. Christ left us his Church with authority for teaching all wisdom of God to His successors. The Anglican Church is one of hundreds that have severed themselves from the original Church founded by Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that over time, the Anglican Church has attempted to emulate the long standing Sacraments of the Catholic Church, but that is where any similarity ends.

The Catholic Church can solidly trace its origin to its founder, Jesus Christ. Its ability to teach and reveal the word of God is based upon the same authority placed with the Apostles. This Apostolic succession remains unbroken and intact after 2,000 years. The Priestly Order of the Catholic Church fulfills the one prophesied Priesthood promised by God to the world.

The Anglican Church can solidly trace its origin to King Henry who, in defiance, attempted to invent his own version of Catholicism over defiance regarding the Catholic Church’s refusal to grant him “serial annulments” due to his womanizing. As a result, Anglicanism, especially in the UK, can be as much of a nationalist affiliation as that of a faith.

The Anglican Church cannot and could never lay claim to the one true Priesthood. Anglican orders have never been accepted by the Catholic Church. By cutting themselves from the one true authority, liberal teachings set in with the Anglican Church now “ordaining” openly lesbian females, along with a number of other unbiblical teachings that stem from rejection of the Catholic Church’s teaching authority. It is no wonder that this Church, along with its Episcopalian spin-off, is in a state of chaos.

Regardless of the sinners who live in all faiths, it is not the human members and their behaviors that make them different, it is their proclaimed teachings of the faith.

30 posted on 12/22/2007 5:57:09 AM PST by motoman
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To: Apparatchik

Here is another pretty disturbing contrast.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/20/nwise120.xml


31 posted on 12/22/2007 6:00:39 AM PST by ishabibble (ALL-AMERICAN INFIDEL)
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To: ishabibble

Bingo. This illustrates why the Archibishop of Canterbury is called a “primate”.


32 posted on 12/22/2007 6:05:11 AM PST by Apparatchik
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To: AliVeritas
Dear Tony, welcome to the circus of the church militant...

You have plenty of help and pray to the holy spirit that you continue to live the faith.

Of course you can't just participate in that greatest prayer which is the Mass...

Spend lots of time in prayer...

You must act as well...

Remember, all around the world, at every moment, your family has Mass. The Blessed, Holy Scriptures (with tabs of course) are to come apart at the seams from your late night studies (the scripture studies you as well, or forms you as you study), you must strive to give all of your self and your goods to whomever needs them (trust me, don't worry, it's replaced, never fails), you are to listen to all your brothers and sisters on this earth to learn more of the testimony of God's creation (the homeless, hungry, prisoners have much to teach on the kingdom of God, don't ever forget it, pride is the root of all sins). Most importantly, God's will be done, not yours. He is a most loving father with a great sense of humor. Keep an eye out for all things that attempt to break down the human condition... no matter how phrased, popular or finessed, pray constantly, also pray your office, we know who despises those made in his image. Remember you are in the world, not of it.

As our lady always tells us... pray, pray, pray.

Lastly remember, somewhere someone's walking miles to get to a Mass far away, someone's getting arrested for a bible study in some country, somone's being flogged for saying a Mass or killed for teaching communist children in a school, churches are being burned, parishioners shot somewhere, somewhere there's someone who needs someone to pray for them before they sneak out communion to someone.

The blood of the martyrs, is the seed of the Church. Whether Africa, Saudi Arabia, China, whereever... or the dry, white martyrdom of those in the West as society slanders and attempts to crucify Christ anew constantly... and they watch their Catholic leaders obstinate in the throwing off of their faith. Communicate, pray, study daily. The world needs it, and they know it. May you have the example of Christ and the lesser examples of Sts. Thomas More, Becket and Fisher to help you. May you have the scholarship of John Henry Newmann and Manning. Will have you included in Christmas masses and pray for you.

33 posted on 12/22/2007 6:10:00 AM PST by AliVeritas (ah, the sheer grace! in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled.)
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To: vladimir998

Are Catholics allowed to be Socialist? I’ve read that Cherie considers herself one.


34 posted on 12/22/2007 6:10:42 AM PST by SouthCarolinaKit
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To: Sub-Driver
from his Anglican faith

Is there such a thing? What with the UK Anglican leader this week calling the Nativity a myth.

35 posted on 12/22/2007 6:12:30 AM PST by montag813
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To: rbg81

Wow, you clicked on this thread just to say that... thanks, I like a long prayer list and an opportunity to exercise my patience.


36 posted on 12/22/2007 6:13:12 AM PST by AliVeritas (ah, the sheer grace! in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled.)
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To: rbg81

That’s an interesting point. What exactly is it that he’s converted to here?


37 posted on 12/22/2007 6:14:01 AM PST by Alberta's Child (I'm out on the outskirts of nowhere . . . with ghosts on my trail, chasing me there.)
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To: Gondring

That picture is so stolen.

You’re right... do you think Henry ever figured that out?


38 posted on 12/22/2007 6:15:23 AM PST by AliVeritas (ah, the sheer grace! in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled.)
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To: Jim Noble
Not a problem, Jim. You've always been a class act here.

I'm a Catholic Freeper, and that was the kind of thing I myself would be tempted to post here on a thread like this!

39 posted on 12/22/2007 6:15:50 AM PST by Alberta's Child (I'm out on the outskirts of nowhere . . . with ghosts on my trail, chasing me there.)
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To: Jim Noble

Jim, I love you regardless. Have a blessed Christmas.


40 posted on 12/22/2007 6:16:22 AM PST by AliVeritas (ah, the sheer grace! in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled.)
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To: britt reed

Well, there is a permanent pot-pouri presence in my bathroom, incense is just for special occasions (after burrito night).

Saying Papist is like saying wop, or pollack. They all lost meaning in 1947. Nothing more than a joke these days.


41 posted on 12/22/2007 6:17:45 AM PST by Bastiat_Fan (Please don't call me a PaulTard... Surrender Monkey is so much more pleasing to the ears!)
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To: Sub-Driver
To diverge: It has been said that C.S. Lewis, who in my opinion is the greatest Christian apologist, was close to converting to Catholicism near the end of his life.

Does anyone here have some insight into this?

42 posted on 12/22/2007 6:17:48 AM PST by outofstyle (My Ride's Here)
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To: Sub-Driver

No doubt the Archibishop of Canterbury, having done his utmost to gut the Anglican doctrine with his every recent speech, has helped Mr. Blair decide his personal path.


43 posted on 12/22/2007 6:23:00 AM PST by rod1
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To: Apparatchik
the Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church,

Correction: The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church. 22 distinct Churches sui juris comprise the Catholic Church.

44 posted on 12/22/2007 6:24:42 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham
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To: SouthCarolinaKit

“Are Catholics allowed to be Socialist? I’ve read that Cherie considers herself one.”

There are some very, very left leaning Catholics who are well within the fold. Conversely, there are some very, very right leaning Catholics who are devout Catholics as well. The religious doctrine transcends politics.


45 posted on 12/22/2007 6:24:44 AM PST by RKBA Democrat (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
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To: NYer

Tony Blair swam the Tiber.


46 posted on 12/22/2007 6:28:50 AM PST by RKBA Democrat (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
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To: Poser

Some people loathe the truth.


47 posted on 12/22/2007 6:30:00 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham
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To: Camel Joe; All

First off, sorry to hijack the thread.

Hey CJ, I have to dig up this story re: why no Islamic female names at all in the UK and that they actually questioned (I didn’t see health stats or proof), whether female children are aborted. I never thought about it that way. Also in it, Amsterdam and Brussels with it as the top name... that I hadn’t heard, I have to verify later today.

Here’s an article with the list graphic:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23428641-details/Mohammed+now+second+most+popular+boys’+name+in+Britain/article.do

Oh, and the children have much learning to do:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=503195&in_page_id=1770

Yep, wonderful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqHUdwePfbM&eurl=http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/

Here’s the article re: Brussels, Amsterdam:

For the past five years Mohammed has been the most popular name given to new-born boys in Brussels, the capital of Europe and Belgium. The same applies to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and to major cities like Rotterdam and Antwerp.

In Antwerp, the largest city in Flanders, 29.3 % of the population is not of Flemish origin. This proportion is predicted to rise to 35 % by 2007 and to 40 % by 2012...

Like Brussels, Antwerp has an abundance of mosques, many of them strongholds of islamic fundamentalism. Many Flemish Christians and Jews feel threatened by the growing muslim presence in their home town, and many feel alienated in their own neighbourhoods.

Adding insult to injury, the Antwerp town council has recently decided to transform the oldest public swimming pool of the city into a hammam...

http://www.flemishrepublic.org/current_issue.php?id=12

Will mail you the article pondering islamic female abortion when I find it.

So I respectfully request that Christian brothers and sisters stop doing the devil’s work by separating amongest ourselves even more... but get together and pray.


48 posted on 12/22/2007 6:30:55 AM PST by AliVeritas (ah, the sheer grace! in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Looks like he too got tired of the AoC’s idiotic remarks.


49 posted on 12/22/2007 6:32:00 AM PST by Don Corleone (Leave the gun..take the cannoli)
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To: RKBA Democrat

Excellent answer.


50 posted on 12/22/2007 6:32:35 AM PST by defconw (Pray for Snow!)
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