Cherie Blair says parenthood influenced her return to Catholic faith

Published: 2005-06-07

LONDON (CNS) -- The wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair said being a parent helped her return to her Catholic faith. In her most candid public reflection on her religious beliefs, Cherie Blair described herself as a feminist with an "enduring soft spot for the Virgin Mary." "She, for me, is an important part of Catholicism, because I passionately believe there is no more important role in life than motherhood," Blair said in The Independent newspaper June 5. "I admire her self-sacrifice, her ability to accept God's will and her trust in him. I sometimes find trusting in God hard," she said. Blair, a mother of four children, is a successful lawyer who practices under her maiden name, Cherie Booth, and who specializes in the area of human rights.

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