A PILE of prattle pours forth from the pundits over the disclosure that Anglican Prime Minister Tony Blair, who regularly joins his wife and children in Roman Catholic worship, has attended Mass on his own.

For amid speculation that he might convert to Catholicism, there comes all kinds of guesswork on the consequences if he did. There could be implications for the Ulster peace process, the PM would come under pressure from the anti-abortion lobby, the whole relationship between Church and state would be affected, and so forth.

The firm denial from Downing Street that Mr Blair might convert ought to silence this futile chatter. But also ought not the fact that what faith the Prime Minister follows is his own business anyway?

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