On 8th July 2008, CES Chairman, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, received the honorary degree Doctor of Letters from the University of Leicester.

(image courtesy of the University of Leicester)

Making comparisons between Archbishop Nichols and sixteenth century English bishop and martyr St John Fisher, Professor Gordon Campbell said:

'Like Fisher, he is a conscientious pastoral bishop, but he uses distinctly twenty-first century means to convey his message...'

'If I may pursue the Fisher analogy in one other respect, it is in order to emphasise Vincent Nichols’ commitment to the cause of Catholic education...'

'While it is the responsibility of every bishop to teach his flock, education in a more formal sense continues to loom large in Archbishop Vincent Nichols’ curriculum vitae. He is chairman of the Catholic Education Service and of the Department for Catholic Education and Formation of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. In this position he leads contact and negotiation with the Government on all matters of Catholic Schools and Colleges. He is also the principal episcopal trustee of the three remaining English seminaries outside the United Kingdom: the Venerable English College in Rome, the Pontifical Beda College in Rome, and the Royal English College in Valladolid. Within his diocese he is president of Maryvale Institute at Oscott and chairman of the governing body of Newman University College in Birmingham, whose degrees were until recently validated by University of Leicester. When the arrangement with Newman was established, our Vice-Chancellor met the Governors, and the chairman, Archbishop Vincent, asked questions that were characteristically penetrating and exceedingly well-informed.'

Read the full oration here: http://www2.le.ac.uk/ebulletin/news/2000-2009/2008/06/npfolder.2008-07-07.7204208003/nparticle.2008-07-10.4444612876/