Peter Joseph Jugis

Peter Joseph Jugis (born March 3, 1957) is an American Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Charlotte from 2003 to 2024.

Biography

Early life and education Peter Jugis was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 3, 1957. He was baptized at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Charlotte in 1957 by Michael Joseph Begley. Jugis attended South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, graduating in 1975.

Jugis enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1979. After deciding to enter the priesthood, Jugis went to Rome in 1979 to reside at the Pontifical North American College. He was awarded a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1982. He received a Licentiate of Canon Law from the Gregorian University in 1984.

Jugis asked for calm among the community in 2015 at Charlotte Catholic High School after a speech there by Sister Jane Dominic Laurel. Many parents had been upset by Laurel's remarks on single parenthood, LGBTQ people and divorce. At one point, Laurel stated that children raised by single parents had a greater chance of becoming gay or lesbian. Jugis also criticized parents for what he termed as disrespectful behavior towards Laurel.

In August 2018, following the release of a Pennsylvania grand jury report on priests with credible accusations of sexual abuse of children, Jugis stated that the Diocese of Charlotte was investigating allegations of sexual abuse by clergy and encouraged Catholics to pray for all sexual abuse victims. In December 2019, he released a list of fourteen priests credibly accused of sexual abuse in the diocese since 1972.

In July 2020, Jugis announced that he was banning Patrick Hoare, the newly appointed pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte, from active ministry on the recommendation of the diocesan lay review board. Hoare's suspension stemmed from a credible allegation of sexual abuse in Pennsylvania in the 1990s.

Retirement and legacy Jugis submitted his resignation as bishop of Charlotte to the Vatican in June 2023, citing a chronic kidney condition that prevented him from performing his duties. Jugis is the longest-serving bishop in the diocese, having served for over 20 years. Pope Francis accepted his resignation on April 9, 2024.

Viewpoints

Abortion rights During the 2004 U.S. presidential election, Jugis said that Catholic politicians who support abortion rights for women should be denied communion unless they publicly recanted their views.

Immigration Jugis criticized the Trump Administration in 2017 for its ban on refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.

In April 2018, Jugis and Bishop Luis R. Zarama of Raleigh issued a joint statement calling for reform of federal immigration laws and affirming the need for compassion and justice towards undocumented immigrants.

LGBTQ rights In 2009, Jugis endorsed an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution that banned same-sex marriage. On April 23, 2015, Jugis banned New Ways Ministry co-founder Sister Jeannine Gramick from speaking at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Charlotte. A diocese spokesperson said they cancelled Gramick's appearance because she opposed Catholic teachings on human sexuality.

Liturgy

In 2005, following the publication of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, its subsequent English translation, the accompanying General Instruction of the Roman Missal, and the publication instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum, Jugis issued liturgical norms for the diocese.

In 2006, Jugis reminded his priests that they were only allowed to perform the mandatum, the washing of feet during Holy Thursday, on male parishioners.

In December 2023, Jugis announced that the Vatican had approved the use of the Tridentine mass at four parishes in the diocese for the next two years.