Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 12:12am
Blair speech to put faith at center
Former British prime minister Tony Blair will call for faith to be given a central role in tackling the world's problems. In a speech at Westminster Cathedral, Blair will say failure to engage with religious groups drives believers to apathy or fundamentalism, BBC News online reported Thursday.
Blair, who recently converted to Catholicism, will outline the role of his Faith Foundation for young people due to be launched this year. Anti-war protesters from Stop The War Coalition have pledged to drown out the speech. Catholic peace group Pax Christi also plan a silent protest before the speech.
Since stepping down as prime minister last summer, Blair has become a Roman Catholic and is now a Middle East peace envoy. He told the BBC last year his faith had been "hugely important" to his premiership but said he had been wary of talking about it because "frankly, people do think you're a nutter."
In his speech Thursday evening, he will warn that while societies across the world are adapting to meet the challenges of globalization, religion is coping less well. It faces an internal division between fundamentalism and those who believe religion is a spent force.
Blair is one of a series of speakers on faith and various aspects of life in Britain, which also includes the Conservative frontbencher William Hague and BBC director general Mark Thompson.
Blair, who recently converted to Catholicism, will outline the role of his Faith Foundation for young people due to be launched this year. Anti-war protesters from Stop The War Coalition have pledged to drown out the speech. Catholic peace group Pax Christi also plan a silent protest before the speech.
Since stepping down as prime minister last summer, Blair has become a Roman Catholic and is now a Middle East peace envoy. He told the BBC last year his faith had been "hugely important" to his premiership but said he had been wary of talking about it because "frankly, people do think you're a nutter."
In his speech Thursday evening, he will warn that while societies across the world are adapting to meet the challenges of globalization, religion is coping less well. It faces an internal division between fundamentalism and those who believe religion is a spent force.
Blair is one of a series of speakers on faith and various aspects of life in Britain, which also includes the Conservative frontbencher William Hague and BBC director general Mark Thompson.