RC college honours Bishop Tom Wright

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster, will be among the recipients of academic awards from Heythrop College, University of London today.  He will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity at this year's Graduate Presentation Ceremony, along with Professor Tom Wright, the former Bishop of Durham.  Bishop Tom is now Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrew's, Fife. He was the main speaker at the Down and Dromore clergy conference earlier this year. Best known for his writing, Bishop Tom Wright is a much respected New Testament scholar with an international reputation.  He has written over 30 books, both at the scholarly level and for a popular audience (such as his Everyone series of guides to the New Testament).  His major historical and theological study of the resurrection (The Resurrection of the Son of God) was published in 2003.  He also broadcasts regularly on radio and television. Cardinal Cormac was Bishop of Arundel and Brighton before being appointed to Westminster.  He served as Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Europe, and as Vice-President of the Laity Commission.  From 1983 to 2000 he was Chairman of the Committee for Christian Unity, then Chairman of the Department for Mission and Unity.  From 1982 to 2000 he was Co-Chairman of the Anglican and Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC).  In 2000 he was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity by the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, in recognition of his work for Christian unity. At the awards ceremony, two College Fellowships will also be awarded: to Fr Kevin Fox SJ (Trustee Governor of the College for 22 years), and to Revd Roy Dorey, a Baptist Minister and MA Pastoral Theology graduate.  Roy was Assistant Chaplain at Heythrop from 2002-06, then Chaplain (2006-10).