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{{about|the Roman Catholic prelate|other people|Alfred Hughes (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|American cleric}}
{{short description|American cleric}}
⚫
{{about|the Roman Catholic prelate|other people|Alfred Hughes (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]], [[The Most Reverend]]
| honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]], [[The Most Reverend]]
| name = Alfred Clifton Hughes
| name = Alfred Clifton Hughes
| honorific-suffix =
| honorific-suffix =
| archbishop_of = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans|Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans]]
| archbishop_of = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans|Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans]]
| image = FEMA - 16583 - Photograph by Greg Henshall taken on 10-02-2005 in Louisiana.jpg
| image = FEMA - 16583 - Photograph by Greg Henshall taken on 10-02-2005 in Louisiana.jpg
| caption = Archbishop Hughes greets parishioners in front of [[St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans|St. Louis Cathedral]] after the first services in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina more than a month earlier.
| caption = Archbishop Hughes greets parishioners at [[St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans|St. Louis Cathedral]] after the first services in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.
| province =
| province =
| diocese =
| diocese =
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans|New Orleans]]
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans|New Orleans]]
| appointed = February 16, 2001
| appointed = February 16, 2001
| enthroned = January 3, 2002
| enthroned = January 3, 2002
| ended = June 12, 2009
| retired = June 12, 2009
| predecessor = [[Francis Bible Schulte]]
| predecessor = [[Francis Bible Schulte]]
| successor = [[Gregory Michael Aymond]]
| successor = [[Gregory Michael Aymond]]
| ordination = December 15, 1957
| ordination = December 15, 1957
| ordained_by =
| ordained_by = [[Martin John O’Connor]]
| consecration = September 14, 1981
| consecration = September 14, 1981
| consecrated_by = [[Humberto Sousa Medeiros]], [[Thomas Vose Daily]], and [[John Michael D'Arcy]]
| consecrated_by = [[Humberto Sousa Medeiros]], [[Thomas Vose Daily]], and [[John Michael D'Arcy]]
| previous_post = {{bulleted list| Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge|Baton Rouge]] (1993–2002) | [[Auxiliary Bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|Boston]] and [[Titular Bishop]] of [[Maximiana in Byzacena]] (1981–1993) }}
| previous_post = {{bulleted list| Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge|Baton Rouge]] (1993–2002) | [[Auxiliary Bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|Boston]] and [[Titular Bishop]] of [[Maximiana in Byzacena]] (1981–1993) }}
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1932|12|2}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1932|12|2}}
| birth_place = [[West Roxbury, Massachusetts]]
| birth_place = [[West Roxbury, Massachusetts]], US
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| buried =
| buried =
| nationality =
| nationality =
| religion =
| religion =
| residence =
| residence =
| parents =
| parents =
| spouse =
| spouse =
| children =
| children =
| occupation =
| occupation =
| profession =
⚫
| alma_mater = [[St. John's Seminary (Massachusetts)|St. John's Seminary College]]
| profession =
| signature =
⚫
| alma_mater = [[St. John's Seminary (Massachusetts)|St. John's Seminary College]]
| signature =
| coat_of_arms =
⚫
| motto = For you, God’s own love
| coat_of_arms =
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| motto = For you, God’s own love
}}
}}


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}}
'''Alfred Clifton Hughes''', [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre|KCHS]] (born December 2, 1932) is a retired [[United States|American]] [[prelate]] of the [[Catholic Church]]. He served as the 13th [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans|Archbishop of New Orleans]] from 2002 to 2009, having previously served as [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge|Bishop of Baton Rouge]] beginning in 1993.
'''Alfred Clifton Hughes''', [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre|KCHS]] (born December 2, 1932) is a retired [[United States|American]] [[prelate]] of the [[Catholic Church]] who served as [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans|Archbishop of New Orleans]] from 2002 to 2009.


Hughes previously served as [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge|Bishop of Baton Rouge]] from 1993 to 2002 and as an auxiliary bishop in the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|Archdiocese of Boston]] from 1981 to 1993
==Early life and education==
⚫
Alfred Hughes was born in [[West Roxbury, Massachusetts|West Roxbury]], [[Massachusetts]], as the third of the four children of Alfred and Ellen (née Hennessey) Hughes; he has two older sisters, Dorothy Callahan and Marie Morgan, and a younger brother, a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit priest]] named Kenneth. Hughes studied at [[St. John's Seminary (Massachusetts)|St. John's Seminary College]], from where he received his [[bachelor's degree]] in [[philosophy]] in 1954, and then furthered his studies in [[Rome]] at the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] until 1958.


==Biography==
⚫
He was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|priesthood]] in Rome on December 15, 1957, and then did [[Parish (Catholic Church)|pastoral]] work before returning to the Gregorian to obtain a [[doctorate]] in spiritual [[theology]] from 1959 to 1961. Upon his return to the [[United States]], he became a [[professor]], as well as [[Spiritual direction|spiritual director]] and [[lecturer]], at his ''[[alma mater]]'' of St. John's Seminary in 1962.


==Auxiliary Bishop of Boston==
=== Early life ===
⚫
Alfred Hughes was born on December 2, 1932, in [[West Roxbury, Massachusetts|West Roxbury]], [[Massachusetts]], as the third of the four children of Alfred and Ellen (née Hennessey) Hughes; he has two older sisters, Dorothy Callahan and Marie Morgan, and a younger brother, a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit priest]] named Kenneth. Hughes studied at [[St. John's Seminary (Massachusetts)|St. John's Seminary College]], from where he received his [[bachelor's degree]] in [[philosophy]] in 1954, and then furthered his studies in [[Rome]] at the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] until 1958.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Our Bishops |url=https://diobr.org/our-bishops |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Bishops of Archdiocese {{!}} St Louis Cathedral |url=https://www.stlouiscathedral.org/about/our-history/bishops-of-archdiocese |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=www.stlouiscathedral.org}}</ref>
⚫
On July 21, 1981, Hughes was appointed [[Auxiliary bishop|Auxiliary Bishop]] [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|of Boston]] and [[Titular bishop|Titular Bishop]] of [[Maximiana in Byzacena]] by [[Pope John Paul II]]. He received his [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal consecration]] on the following September 14 from [[Humberto Sousa Medeiros|Humberto Cardinal Medeiros]], with [[Thomas Vose Daily|Bishops Thomas Daily]] and [[John Michael D'Arcy|John D'Arcy]] serving as [[Consecrator|co-consecrators]]. Hughes served as [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|Rector]] of St. John's Seminary from 1981 to 1986, and as [[vicar general]] and vicar of administration from 1990 until 1993.


⚫
Hughes was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the priesthood by Archbishop [[Martin John O'Connor|Martin John O’Connor]] for the Archdiocese of Boston in Rome on December 15, 1957, and then did [[Parish (Catholic Church)|pastoral]] work before returning to the Gregorian to obtain a [[doctorate]] in spiritual [[theology]] from 1959 to 1961. Upon his return to the United States, he became a professor, as well as [[Spiritual direction|spiritual director]] and [[lecturer]], at St. John's Seminary in 1962.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
⚫
==Bishop of Baton Rouge==
⚫
He was then named [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge|Bishop of Baton Rouge]] on September 7, 1993, and was installed on November 7 of that same year. On February 16, 2001, Hughes was made [[Coadjutor bishop|Coadjutor Archbishop]] of [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]], serving under Archbishop [[Francis Bible Schulte|Francis Schulte]]. He visited ninety of the [[Diocese|archdiocese]]’s 142 parishes when he arrived there to become more familiar with the people.
⚫
[[File:MitchLandrieu GeorgeWBush RayNagin AlfredHughes, 2007March01.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Archbishop Alfred Hughes (far right) with (right to left) New Orleans Mayor [[Ray Nagin]], President [[George W. Bush]], and Louisiana Lt. Gov. [[Mitch Landrieu]].]]


==Archbishop of New Orleans==
==== Auxiliary Bishop of Boston ====
⚫
On July 21, 1981, Hughes was appointed [[auxiliary bishop]] of the Archdiocese of Boston and [[Titular bishop|Titular Bishop]] of [[Maximiana in Byzacena]] by [[Pope John Paul II]]. He received his [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal consecration]] on September 14, 1981, from Cardinal [[Humberto Sousa Medeiros|Humberto Medeiros]], with Bishops [[Thomas Vose Daily|Thomas Daily]] and [[John Michael D'Arcy|John D'Arcy]] serving as [[Consecrator|co-consecrators]]. Hughes served as [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]] of St. John's Seminary from 1981 to 1986, and as [[vicar general]] and vicar of administration from 1990 until 1993.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
Hughes succeeded Schulte as [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans|Archbishop of New Orleans]] upon the latter’s retirement on January 3, 2002. His tenure was marked by the devastating [[Hurricane Katrina]] in 2005, after which he made a [[Television|televised]] appearance with Bishop [[Robert William Muench|Robert Muench]] (his successor in [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]]), saying, “God has brought us to our knees in the face of disaster. We are so overwhelmed, we do not really know how to respond. Powerlessness leads us to prayer. And we know when we turn to God, God offers us his grace”.<ref>Catholic News Service. [http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0504974.htm Louisianans face long recovery from Katrina, New Orleans flooding] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050908065910/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0504974.htm |date=2005-09-08 }} August 31, 2005</ref> In response to questioning [[religion]] during the [[hurricane]]’s aftermath, Hughes also said, “People can either turn inward on themselves and lose hope, or they turn upward to God and outward to other people. Our faith teaches us to do the latter, to really believe that God is present and is asking us to be partners with him in the recovery and restoration”.<ref>USA Today. [https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-07-18-katrina-faith_N.htm A Katrina survivor stands fast in her faith] 2006</ref>


⚫
=== Bishop of Baton Rouge ===
Hughes implemented a controversial post-Katrina church consolidation program that reduced the diocese from 142 parishes to 108. The storm drove away nearly a quarter of its former membership and left it with nearly $300 million in physical damage.<ref>[http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/vatican_names_austins_bishop_g.html New Orleans Times-Picayune: "New archbishop vows to 'reconcile' with those hurt by parish closures, but says he won't 'second guess' Hughes"] June 12, 2009</ref>
Hughes was named bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge|Diocese of Baton Rouge]] by John Paul II on September 7, 1993; he was installed on November 7, 1993.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
⚫
[[File:MitchLandrieu GeorgeWBush RayNagin AlfredHughes, 2007March01.jpg|thumb|right|299x299px|Archbishop Alfred Hughes (far right) with (right to left) New Orleans Mayor [[Ray Nagin]], President [[George W. Bush]], and Louisiana Lt. Gov. [[Mitch Landrieu]].]]

=== Coadjutor Archbishop and Archbishop of New Orleans ===
⚫
On February 16, 2001, Hughes was appointed by John Paul II as [[Coadjutor bishop|coadjutor archbishop]] of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, serving under Archbishop [[Francis Bible Schulte|Francis Schulte]]. He visited 90 of the [[Diocese|archdiocese]]’s 142 parishes when he arrived there to become more familiar with the people.<ref name=":1" />

Hughes automatically succeeded Schulte as archbishop of New Orleans upon the latter’s retirement on January 3, 2002.<ref name=":1" /> His tenure was marked by the devastating [[Hurricane Katrina]] in 2005. In response to questioning [[religion]] during the [[hurricane]]’s aftermath, Hughes also said, <blockquote>“People can either turn inward on themselves and lose hope, or they turn upward to God and outward to other people. Our faith teaches us to do the latter, to really believe that God is present and is asking us to be partners with him in the recovery and restoration”.<ref>USA Today. [https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-07-18-katrina-faith_N.htm A Katrina survivor stands fast in her faith] 2006</ref></blockquote>Hughes implemented a controversial post-Katrina church consolidation program that reduced the diocese from 142 parishes to 108. The storm drove away nearly a quarter of its former membership and left it with nearly $300 million in physical damage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bruce |first=Nolan |date=2009-06-13 |title=New archbishop vows to 'reconcile' with those hurt by parish closures, but says he won't 'second guess' Hughes |url=https://www.nola.com/news/new-archbishop-vows-to-reconcile-with-those-hurt-by-parish-closures-but-says-he-wont/article_311830dd-1451-5300-92ce-ce3d3d05664b.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Times-Picayune |language=en}}</ref>


Questions were raised concerning Hughes's handling of sexual abuse cases by the clergy, in both [[Boston]] and New Orleans. For this, he apologized and said, “Our action or inaction failed to protect the innocents among us, the children. I ask for forgiveness"<ref>Catholic Bishops and Sex Abuse. [http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/databases/DallasMorningNewsBishops.htm ARCHBISHOP ALFRED HUGHES].</ref>
Questions were raised concerning Hughes's handling of sexual abuse cases by the clergy, in both [[Boston]] and New Orleans. For this, he apologized and said, “Our action or inaction failed to protect the innocents among us, the children. I ask for forgiveness"<ref>Catholic Bishops and Sex Abuse. [http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/databases/DallasMorningNewsBishops.htm ARCHBISHOP ALFRED HUGHES].</ref>
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Hughes placed an emphasis on [[Evangelism|evangelization]] as a major theme of his tenure. He also sits on numerous committees of the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]], including that which oversees the use of the [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]].
Hughes placed an emphasis on [[Evangelism|evangelization]] as a major theme of his tenure. He also sits on numerous committees of the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]], including that which oversees the use of the [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]].


On April 2, 2009, Hughes "joined a growing chorus of Catholic bishops deploring the University of Notre Dame's decision to award President [[Barack Obama]] an honorary doctorate at graduation exercises" in May 2009.<ref>Bruce Nolan, "Hughes raps college over Obama honor" in ''Times-Picayune'' (New Orleans), 2009 April 3, Saint Tammany Edition, pp. A1, A4 (web version = [http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/hughes_chides_notre_dame_for_o.html N.O. Archbishop criticizes Notre Dame for inviting Obama to speak at commencement).] The announcement was met by a letter to the editor of the ''Times-Picayune'' insinuating that Hughes should instead have complained to the Pope about the short-lived appointment of [[Gerhard Maria Wagner]] to be auxiliary bishop of [[Linz, Austria]]. H. Bruce Shreves, [http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1239341488183480.xml&coll=1 Archbishop's outrage needed closer to home], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604185106/http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-13%2F1239341488183480.xml&coll=1 |date=2011-06-04 }} ''Times-Picayune'', 2009 April 10, Saint Tammany Edition, p. B6.</ref> The reasons concerned Obama's support for abortion rights and other issues viewed as incompatible with the teaching of the Catholic Church, with which the Notre Dame is affiliated.<ref>See also the articles on [[John Michael D'Arcy#Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend|John Michael D'Arcy]], [[Thomas J. Olmsted#Bishop of Phoenix|Thomas J. Olmsted]], [[John I. Jenkins]], [[Daniel DiNardo#Archbishop of Galveston-Houston|Daniel DiNardo]], [[Timothy Dolan#Archbishop of New York|Timothy Dolan]], and [[American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property]].</ref>
On April 2, 2009, Hughes "joined a growing chorus of Catholic bishops deploring the [[University of Notre Dame]]'s decision to award President [[Barack Obama]] an honorary doctorate at graduation exercises" in May 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=Bruce |date=2009-04-03 |title=N.O. Archbishop criticizes Notre Dame for inviting Obama to speak at commencement |url=https://www.nola.com/news/n-o-archbishop-criticizes-notre-dame-for-inviting-obama-to-speak-at-commencement/article_a5dad094-69d9-585c-90a5-3e15eff8cdc6.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Times-Picayune |language=en}}</ref> The reasons concerned Obama's support for [[Abortion rights in the United States|abortion rights]] for women and other issues viewed as incompatible with the teaching of the Catholic Church, with which the Notre Dame is affiliated.

A front-page article in the ''Times-Picayune'' on April 17, 2009 pictured Hughes and described his support, representing the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, of State Senate Bill 115, authored by [[Danny Martiny]]. It was to ban mixing of "human and animal cells in a Petri dish" and was thought to be the first bill of its kind, a "pre-emptive strike" against attempts to create hybrid human-ape creatures.<ref>Ed Anderson, [http://www.nola.com/news/?/base/news-1/123994621930560.xml&coll=1 Proposal outlaws mixing people, animals: DNA research ban likely unique in U.S.], ''Times-Picayune'', 2009 April 17, Saint Tammany Edition, pp. A1-A2.</ref>


A week later, another front-page article in the ''Times-Picayune'' described Hughes' refusal to attend commencement exercises at [[Xavier University of Louisiana]] because the ceremony included awarding of an honorary degree to [[Donna Brazile]], a supporter of [[abortion]] rights.<ref>Bruce Nolan & John Pope, [http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1240551219314070.xml&coll=1 Hughes snubs Xavier graduation ceremony], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909153640/http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-12%2F1240551219314070.xml&coll=1 |date=2009-09-09 }} ''Times-Picayune'', 2009 April 24, pp. A1, A11. Hughes' decision to absent the ceremony was criticized by Herman J. Galatas Sr. in a letter to the editor titled [http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/letterstoeditor/index.ssf?/base/news-13/124072415699690.xml&coll=1 "Archbishop's Xavier graduation boycott illogical"]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} in the ''Times-Picayune'', 2009 April 26, Metro Edition, p. B4. Hughes was defended by John Richard & Pam Richard in a letter to the editor titled [http://blog.nola.com/letterstotheeditor/2009/05/abortion_mars_civil_society.html "Abortion mars civil society"] in ''Times-Picayune'', 2009 May 04, Saint Tammany Edition, p. B4.</ref>
That same month, Hughes refused to attend commencement exercises at [[Xavier University of Louisiana]] in New Orleans because Xavier was awarding of an honorary degree to author [[Donna Brazile]], a supporter of [[abortion]] rights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-09-09 |title=Hughes snubs Xavier graduation ceremony - NOLA.com |url=http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1240551219314070.xml&coll=1 |access-date=2023-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909153640/http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1240551219314070.xml&coll=1 |archive-date=2009-09-09 }}</ref>


On June 12, 2009, Hughes was succeeded by [[Gregory Michael Aymond|Gregory Aymond]]. Hughes continued to serve as [[apostolic administrator]] until 2009 August 20.{{cn|date=July 2020}}
On June 12, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Hughes' resignation as archbishop of New Orleans. He was succeeded by [[Gregory Michael Aymond|Gregory Aymond]]. Hughes continued to serve as [[apostolic administrator]] until August 20, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Alfred Clifton Hughes [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bhughes.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 13:07, 18 November 2024

This article is about the Roman Catholic prelate. For other people, see Alfred Hughes (disambiguation).
His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Alfred Clifton Hughes
Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans
Archbishop Hughes greets parishioners at St. Louis Cathedral after the first services in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.
ArchdioceseNew Orleans
AppointedFebruary 16, 2001
InstalledJanuary 3, 2002
RetiredJune 12, 2009
PredecessorFrancis Bible Schulte
SuccessorGregory Michael Aymond
Previous post(s)
Orders
OrdinationDecember 15, 1957
by Martin John O’Connor
ConsecrationSeptember 14, 1981
by Humberto Sousa Medeiros, Thomas Vose Daily, and John Michael D'Arcy
Personal details
Born (1932-12-02) December 2, 1932 (age 92)
West Roxbury, Massachusetts, US
Alma materSt. John's Seminary College
MottoFor you, God’s own love
Styles of
Alfred Clifton Hughes
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop
Ordination history of
Alfred Clifton Hughes
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byHumberto Sousa Medeiros
DateSeptember 4, 1981
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Alfred Clifton Hughes as principal consecrator
Roger MorinFebruary 11, 2003
Ronald Paul HerzogNovember 4, 2004
Shelton Joseph FabreDecember 13, 2006
Glen John ProvostApril 23, 2007
Michael DucaMay 19, 2008

Alfred Clifton Hughes, KCHS (born December 2, 1932) is a retired American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of New Orleans from 2002 to 2009.

Hughes previously served as Bishop of Baton Rouge from 1993 to 2002 and as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston from 1981 to 1993

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Alfred Hughes was born on December 2, 1932, in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, as the third of the four children of Alfred and Ellen (née Hennessey) Hughes; he has two older sisters, Dorothy Callahan and Marie Morgan, and a younger brother, a Jesuit priest named Kenneth. Hughes studied at St. John's Seminary College, from where he received his bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1954, and then furthered his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University until 1958.[1][2]

Hughes was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Martin John O’Connor for the Archdiocese of Boston in Rome on December 15, 1957, and then did pastoral work before returning to the Gregorian to obtain a doctorate in spiritual theology from 1959 to 1961. Upon his return to the United States, he became a professor, as well as spiritual director and lecturer, at St. John's Seminary in 1962.[1][2]

Auxiliary Bishop of Boston

[edit]

On July 21, 1981, Hughes was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston and Titular Bishop of Maximiana in Byzacena by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on September 14, 1981, from Cardinal Humberto Medeiros, with Bishops Thomas Daily and John D'Arcy serving as co-consecrators. Hughes served as rector of St. John's Seminary from 1981 to 1986, and as vicar general and vicar of administration from 1990 until 1993.[1][2]

Bishop of Baton Rouge

[edit]

Hughes was named bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge by John Paul II on September 7, 1993; he was installed on November 7, 1993.[1][2]

Archbishop Alfred Hughes (far right) with (right to left) New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, President George W. Bush, and Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu.

Coadjutor Archbishop and Archbishop of New Orleans

[edit]

On February 16, 2001, Hughes was appointed by John Paul II as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, serving under Archbishop Francis Schulte. He visited 90 of the archdiocese’s 142 parishes when he arrived there to become more familiar with the people.[2]

Hughes automatically succeeded Schulte as archbishop of New Orleans upon the latter’s retirement on January 3, 2002.[2] His tenure was marked by the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In response to questioning religion during the hurricane’s aftermath, Hughes also said,

“People can either turn inward on themselves and lose hope, or they turn upward to God and outward to other people. Our faith teaches us to do the latter, to really believe that God is present and is asking us to be partners with him in the recovery and restoration”.[3]

Hughes implemented a controversial post-Katrina church consolidation program that reduced the diocese from 142 parishes to 108. The storm drove away nearly a quarter of its former membership and left it with nearly $300 million in physical damage.[4]

Questions were raised concerning Hughes's handling of sexual abuse cases by the clergy, in both Boston and New Orleans. For this, he apologized and said, “Our action or inaction failed to protect the innocents among us, the children. I ask for forgiveness"[5]

Hughes placed an emphasis on evangelization as a major theme of his tenure. He also sits on numerous committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including that which oversees the use of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

On April 2, 2009, Hughes "joined a growing chorus of Catholic bishops deploring the University of Notre Dame's decision to award President Barack Obama an honorary doctorate at graduation exercises" in May 2009.[6] The reasons concerned Obama's support for abortion rights for women and other issues viewed as incompatible with the teaching of the Catholic Church, with which the Notre Dame is affiliated.

That same month, Hughes refused to attend commencement exercises at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans because Xavier was awarding of an honorary degree to author Donna Brazile, a supporter of abortion rights.[7]

On June 12, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Hughes' resignation as archbishop of New Orleans. He was succeeded by Gregory Aymond. Hughes continued to serve as apostolic administrator until August 20, 2009.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Our Bishops". Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Bishops of Archdiocese | St Louis Cathedral". www.stlouiscathedral.org. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  3. ^ USA Today. A Katrina survivor stands fast in her faith 2006
  4. ^ Bruce, Nolan (2009-06-13). "New archbishop vows to 'reconcile' with those hurt by parish closures, but says he won't 'second guess' Hughes". Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  5. ^ Catholic Bishops and Sex Abuse. ARCHBISHOP ALFRED HUGHES.
  6. ^ Nolan, Bruce (2009-04-03). "N.O. Archbishop criticizes Notre Dame for inviting Obama to speak at commencement". Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  7. ^ "Hughes snubs Xavier graduation ceremony - NOLA.com". 2009-09-09. Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  8. ^ "Archbishop Alfred Clifton Hughes [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfred Clifton Hughes.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Alfred Clifton Hughes.

Episcopal succession

[edit]
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Grand Prior Southeastern Lieutenancy of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
2002–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Archbishop of New Orleans
2002–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Baton Rouge
1993–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
-
 Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
1981–1993 		Succeeded by
-
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