ROCKVILLE CENTRE, Long Island, NY, Dec 12, 2000 (LSN.ca) – Bishop James Thomas McHugh of Rockville Centre died of cancer yesterday at 68. His pro-life witness was recalled by his good friend New York Archbishop Egan, who said, “During these months of his illness, he continued to preach the sanctity of life, only now he added his own example of the beauty of life, even when it is attended by sickness and suffering.” The NY Daily News reports that even while already succumbing to cancer he continued his pro-life activism. “Last month, from his hospital bed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, McHugh called on his flock to vote for pro-life candidates,” says the paper.
LifeSite singled out Bishop McHugh this past October as an example to all bishops of the world for his pro-life stance. In a September letter to all the priests in his diocese he laid out a policy stressing that “no pro-abortion public official or candidate is to be invited to address Catholic agencies or organizations, school or parish groups, even if he/she does not intend to express their pro-abortion views.” The directive, which was to “take effect immediately” was not limited to politicians. It noted that “those who are pro-abortion or claim to be personally opposed to abortion but unwilling to integrate their moral principles with civic responsibilities are not to be given leadership positions in the diocese parish or other church agencies or organizations, nor to exercise any liturgical ministry.”
For more from LifeSite on Bishop McHugh (including his full letter) see: https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2000/oct/001006.html#1
See the NY Daily News coverage at: https://www.nydailynews.com/2000-12-11/News_and_Views/City_Beat/a-91890.asp