James Thomas McHugh

James Thomas McHugh (January 3, 1932 – December 10, 2000) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as bishop of Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York during the year 2000.

McHugh previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark in New Jersey from 1987 to 1989, as bishop of the Diocese of Camden in New Jersey from 1989 to 1998 and as coadjutor bishop of Rockville Centre from 1998 to early 2000.

Biography

Early life McHugh was born on January 3, 1932, in Orange, New Jersey, to James T. and Caroline (née Scavone) McHugh. He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Venantius Parish, and attended Our Lady of the Valley High School, both in Orange. He enrolled at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in classical languages. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned McHugh as a curate at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Newark. He was later transferred to Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Lee, New Jersey. While in that position he caused controversy when, in response to US President Richard Nixon's July 1969 proposal of federal funding of artificial contraception as a means of population control, McHugh said Nixon's message was "a positive and constructive approach to the problem." The Vatican named McHugh as a papal chamberlain in 1971 and as an honorary prelate in 1986.

Bishop of Camden Following the retirement of Bishop George Guilfoyle, McHugh was named the fifth bishop of Camden on May 13, 1989, by John Paul II. He presided over a diocesan synod in September 1992.