Graham Leonard

Graham Douglas Leonard KCVO (* May 8, 1921; † January 6, 2010 in Witney ) was a British cleric. He was bishop of the Church of England, but converted after his retirement to the Roman Catholic faith.

Life

Leonard studied at the theological college Westcott House. Before he became Suffragan Bishop of Willesden in 1964, he was rector of the church of St Andrew Undershaft, St Mary Axe in the City of London and Archdeacon of Hampstead. He later became Bishop of Truro (1973-1981) and Bishop of London ( 1981-1991 ). From 1977 to 1991 he was Lord as a spiritual member of the House of Lords. He was also Dean of the Chapel Royal, a Hofstaatsamt for which he was awarded the title of Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order ( KCVO ), and prelate of the Order of the British Empire.

Due to the approval of the ordination of women in the Anglican Communion, he finally stepped out of the Church of England and in 1992 in the Roman Catholic Church. On April 23, 1994 he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Since Rome does not recognize the validity of Anglican ordination, Leonard is not a bishop of the Catholic Church. He was later appointed papal chaplain of honor with the title Monsignor, and on 3 August 2000 Honorary Prelate of His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 2006 Leonard was traded as a cardinal candidate, reported the London " Times ". Pope Benedict XVI. during his time as a Cardinal contact with Leonard, former Bishop of London, and accompanied him on his way into the Catholic Church.

Leonard was married to Priscilla Swann and had two sons, Mark and James. The Catholic Church had taken a celibacy exemption for over Anglican clergyman entered.