Tony Blair's wife Praises Contraceptives

Her comments follow Pope Benedict XVI's remarks earlier this month defending the 1968 papal encyclical Humanae Vitae, which explains how artificial contraception is immoral.

LONDON (CNA) - Cherie Blair, wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair, appeared to contradict Catholic teaching on artificial birth control during a television interview in which she talked about the impact of contraception on women's lives.

Speaking in an interview on GMTV, Blair responded to viewers interested in her remarks concerning contraceptive use in her new book. In her book, Blair told how her youngest son was conceived when she did not pack her contraceptive equipment.

"People seem to be quite shocked that perhaps a Catholic girl even uses contraception but it is really an important thing for women because one of the things about the book is about how women's lives have changed," Blair told interviewer Lorraine Kelly.

"One of the reasons women's lives have changed is that they have been able to control their fertility, it is an important issue."

Her comments follow Pope Benedict XVI's remarks earlier this month defending the 1968 papal encyclical Humanae Vitae, which explains how artificial contraception is immoral.

Blair also spoke in the interview about meeting two Popes, which she called a "huge thing" for a "good Catholic girl." Her husband converted to Catholicism last December.

According to The Press Association, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in England and Wales declined to comment.

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