The recent conversion of Tony Blair is continuing to stir controversy, and now a bishop in Great Britain has written a letter to the local press saying, “Enough already.”

The author of the letter is pictured below. He is Rt. Rev Joseph Devine, Bishop of Motherwell, Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid, Motherwell.

Part of his letter:

A great deal of unfortunate and misinformed views and remarks have been expressed following Mr Blair’s conversion to Roman Catholicism. The Catholic Faith is not an elite private club. Catholicism is not a small, privileged group. The Church exists for everyone. It is God’s saving message for all mankind. It is a refuge for repentant sinners (that is an apt description for all of us, not just Mr Blair). It is a patient and forgiving teacher of Christ’s profound truths.

Mr Blair now, like the rest of us, has declared that he believes everything the Church teaches to be the revealed truth. He has thrown himself on God’s mercy and has asked for forgiveness. It is regrettable that some would have Mr Blair walk barefoot in sackcloth and ashes and make a public recantation of his sins. That being the case, I would in similar fashion have to follow alongside him and so would everyone else I know.

It would be quite a procession.

Of course people are struggling with his former anti-Catholic voting record on so many issues close to their hearts and conscience. But we have all offended God in so many different ways and, like Mr Blair, we too have thrown ourselves on God’s mercy. God alone will judge him and us. We must all hope and pray that God does not judge and condemn any of us as we deserve.