[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H12521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO THE LATE BISHOP JAMES T. McHUGH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  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, was buried.
  After a long battle with cancer, Bishop McHugh passed away on 
December 10. 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, New York, Bishop McHugh 
served with dedication and effectiveness as Bishop of the Diocese of 
Camden, New Jersey, an area just south of 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 Christ 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 and brightest and clearly among the 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 his 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 U.S. 
Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, as well as a consultor to the 
Pontifical Council on the Family. His dedication to the family and the 
pro-life movement knew no bounds, and his representation of the Vatican 
at international meetings at the United Nations on population control 
and pro-life matters served not only as an inspiration for myself and 
many others, but he upheld the convictions and beliefs of the church 
and believers worldwide, and did it with great distinction.
  Bishop McHugh's courage and convictions could not have been more 
evident, again, as he entered his final days in life. He spoke up on 
behalf of all of those who are disenfranchised and dispossessed. Again, 
he preached reconciliation and love. I ask that we all remember him.
  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--was 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 well 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 
Bishops' 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 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 perishes. Although Bishop McHugh was critized 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 Copehagen, 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 Cario, Egypt.

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