Background
Hughes, William Anthony was born on September 23, 1921 in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. Son of James Francis and Anna Marie (Philbin) Hughes.
Hughes, William Anthony was born on September 23, 1921 in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. Son of James Francis and Anna Marie (Philbin) Hughes.
After attending Ursuline High School in Youngstown, he studied at Saint Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland, from where he graduated summa cum laude. He returned to Ohio and completed his theological studies at Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland.
Foreign other persons with similar names, see William Hughes. He served as Bishop of Covington from 1979 to 1995. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James A. McFadden on April 6, 1946.
He then served as a curate at Saint Charles Church in Boardman and Saint Joseph Church in Massillon.
In 1956 he earned a Master"s degree in Education from the University of Notre Dame. Hughes was the founding principal of Cardinal Mooney High School from 1956 until 1965, when he became superintendent of Catholic schools and vicar for education in the Diocese of Youngstown.
He was raised to the rank of Monsignor by Pope John XXIII in 1961. On July 23, 1974, Hughes was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Youngstown and Titular Bishop of Inis Cathaig by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 12 from Bishop James William Malone, with Archbishop Joseph Bernardin and Bishop William Michael Cosgrove serving as co-consecrators, at Saint Columba"s Church.
Following the resignation of Richard Henry Ackerman, Hughes was named the eighth Bishop of Covington, Kentucky, on April 13, 1979.
He was installed at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption on the following May 8. During his tenure, he was criticised for inviting pro-choice figures such as Republican Robert Drinan, Society of Jesus (Jesuit), and actress Marlo Thomas to speak at church-sponsored events, and for saying Mass for gays and lesbians at Chicago in 1992.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Spiritual Renewal and Continuing Education.
After sixteen years as Bishop of Covington, Hughes resigned on July 4, 1995. He was succeeded by Bishop Robert William Muench, who was later appointed Bishop of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.