[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO BISHOP JAMES T. McHUGH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today, a great man of God, a 
brilliant writer of homilies and incisive commentary, an extraordinary 
humanitarian, a courageous defender of human life, Bishop James T. 
McHugh--will be buried. After a long battle with cancer, Bishop McHugh 
passed away on December 10th. Consistent with how he lived his life, 
Bishop McHugh faced death like he faced life--with courage, dignity and 
an unwavering faith that inspires us all. Prior to his assignment at 
Rockville Center, Bishop McHugh served with dedication and 
effectiveness as Bishop of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, and area 
which borders my district.
  Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege of knowing this holy man of God 
and calling him ``friend'' for over 25 years. By his words and 
extraordinary example, Bishop McHugh lived the Gospel of Jesus with 
unpretentious passion and humility. Bishop McHugh radiated Christ. He 
recognized evil and deceit in the world for what it was--yet he never 
ceased to proclaim reconciliation and renewal through Christ, the 
Sacraments and the Church. Clearly among the best, brightest and most 
wise, Bishop McHugh nevertheless was humble and soft spoken. His 
courage to press on against any and all odds was without peer. He was a 
spiritual giant, and we will miss him dearly.
  A graduate of Seton Hall University and the Immaculate Conception 
Seminary in Darlington, New Jersey, Bishop McHugh began his service to 
the church early in life. Ordained in 1957, Bishop McHugh's impact has 
been felt in countless ways. His constant and unyielding defense of the 
unborn will serve as a pillar of strength to all of us who carry on the 
fight for life. At the time of his death, Bishop McHugh was a member of 
the US Bishop's Committee on Pro-Life Activities as well as a consultor 
to the Pontifical Council on the Family. His dedication to the pro-life 
movement knew no bounds, and his representation of the Vatican at 
international meetings and at the United Nations on population control 
and pro-life matters served as not only an inspiration for myself, but 
upheld the convictions and beliefs of the Church and believers 
worldwide.
  Bishop McHugh's courage and convictions could not have been more 
evident than just recently, when he ordered that no public officials or 
candidates who supported abortion be permitted to appear at Catholic 
parishes. Although Bishop McHugh was criticized by the media, he was 
upheld in high esteem among those of us who hold that all human life is 
precious. Bishop McHugh held strong to clear Christian teaching on the 
sanctity of human life and the duty of all men and women of goodwill, 
especially politicians, to protect the vulnerable from the violence of 
abortion.
  Early in his career, Bishop McHugh worked on staff of the National 
Conference of Catholic Bishops and was named director of the Division 
for Family Life in 1967 and director of the bishops' Secretariat for 
Pro-Life activities in 1972. Bishop McHugh did advanced theological 
studies at the Angelicum in Rome and earned his doctorate in sacred 
theology in 1981.
  Bishop McHugh must be commended for this outstanding work as Vatican 
delegate to numerous international conferences, including the 1974 
International Conference on Population in Bucharest, Romania, the 1980 
UN World Conference on Women in Copenhagen, Denmark; the 1984 UN World 
Population Conference in Mexico City; the 1990 World Summit for 
Children in New York; the 1992 International Earth Summit in Rio de 
Janiero, Brazil, and the 1994 International Conference on Population 
and Development in Cairo, Egypt.

                          ____________________