Honorary
Doctorates |
Leeds Met honours the Right Reverend David Konstant, Emeritus Bishop of Leeds
Leeds
Met took great pleasure in awarding the Right Reverend David
Konstant, Emeritus Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds, with
an Honorary Doctorate of Laws during the University’s graduation
ceremonies 2004.
Born and educated in London, David Konstant went on to study at Christ’s College in Cambridge, and was awarded the degree of Master of Arts. He studied for the priesthood at St Edmund’s College, Ware, and was ordained in 1954. In 1977 he became Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, and was appointed eighth Bishop of Leeds in 1985. He held this position for 27 years until his resignation earlier this year.
Bishop Konstant has made a long and distinguished contribution to Catholic education. Amongst others, he has been the Episcopal Adviser to the Catholic Teachers’ Federation; the Chairman of the Oxford and Cambridge Catholic Education Board; and the Chairman of the Catholic Education Service. He has written on Catholic education and has published numerous theological works. He is particularly noted for his work on the Catechism, being joint Chairman of the committee which oversaw the translation and publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in English.
In his speech, in which he thanked Leeds Met for the Doctorate, Bishop David said: “For much of my life I have been involved in the education scene and I have never ceased to be enthralled by it. It is great to meet students who achieve their ambitions.
“For nearly 20 years my home has been in Leeds and I have loved it here. I hope the same can be said for the members of Leeds Met. This is a great city with an enviable reputation for education and Leeds Met makes a significant contribution to this reputation. I want to thank the staff, parents and everyone else involved in the education, growth and fulfilment of these students.”
In addition to his pastoral and educational work, Bishop Konstant has also made a significant contribution to international affairs. He has served as the Chairman of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Committee for International Affairs; and International Justice and Peace. He has actively promoted the cause of eradicating poverty and promoting justice, and on many visits abroad has highlighted abuses of human rights. On the eve of the war in Iraq he raised with the government the Church’s deep concerns about the morality of that war.
His concern for social inclusion has operated at home as well as abroad. In 1997 he said: “If schools in the poorer areas of the country are not able to offer pupils an education similar to that offered in more affluent areas, we will inevitably pass on the legacy of a divided society to the next generation”. This commitment to educational inclusion is matched by his strong ecumenical commitment. He was the first Chairman of the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council and has worked strenuously with all faith communities in the region. Bishop Konstant is a man of many talents: educator, author, mathematician and linguist, who has worked extensively for his fellow citizens and made a significant contribution to the life of the community of Leeds, England and the world.
