Bishop who converted to Rome is tipped for top honour

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Times
By Andrew Pierce



A MARRIED former Anglican bishop who led the protest against the ordination of women priests may make history by becoming a Roman Catholic cardinal.

Two former Cabinet ministers are backing the move to give Graham Leonard, who was the Bishop of London, the highest honour the Vatican can bestow. If Pope Benedict XVI backs the idea, it would be the most significant promotion for an Anglican convert since John Henry Newman was made a cardinal in 1879.

In 2000 Pope John Paul II awarded one of the highest Catholic honours — the honorific title of the Right Rev Mgr — to Father Leonard, 84, who led many other priests out of the Anglican fold. In 1995 he had become a Catholic priest after being an Anglican bishop for more than 30 years.

John Gummer, a former Conservative Cabinet minister, who, like Mgr Leonard, converted to Rome over the ordination of women, is supporting the move and Paul Murphy, who stood down as the Northern Ireland Secretary after the 2005 election, has written to Francis Campbell, Britain’s newly appointed Ambassador to the Holy See, to canvass support.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,170-1966258,00.html