Thomas J. McDonough

Background

McDonough was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Michael Francis and Mary Margaret (Nolan) McDonough.

Education

After graduating from West Philadelphia Catholic High School, he studied at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Career

He served as the bishop of the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia (1960–1967) and as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky (1967–1981). Early life and ministry

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Hugh L. Lamb on May 26, 1938. In 1941 he earned a Doctor of Canon Law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, District of Columbia He was transferred to the Diocese of Saint Augustine in Florida, where he served as pastor of Saint Joseph"s Church in Loretto (1942–1943) and rector of the Cathedral of Saint Augustine (1943–1945).

He also served as chancellor (1944–1947) and vicar general (1947–1957) of the diocese.

Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Augustine

On March 10, 1947, McDonough was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Augustine, Florida and Titular Bishop of Thenae by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 30 from Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty, with Bishops Emmet M. Walsh and Joseph Carroll McCormick serving as co-consecrators. During his tenure as an auxiliary, he was responsible for a great deal of land purchasing, fund-raising and church building, and worked with African Americans.

Bishop of Savannah

McDonough was named Auxiliary Bishop of Savannah, Georgia, on January 2, 1957, and later succeeded Bishop Gerald O"Hara as the tenth Bishop of Savannah on March 2, 1960. He attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and signed the pioneering civil rights "Pentecost Statement" of the bishops of the Atlanta Province, condemning racial discrimination as contrary to Christian principles.

Archbishop of Louisville

Pope Paul VI promoted McDonough to Archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky, on March 1, 1967.

A self-described "Vatican II bishop," he implemented the Council"s reforms and guided the Archdiocese through an intensive period of activity and change. After fourteen years as Archbishop, he resigned on September 29, 1981. = Reaction to Roe v. Wade On January 22, 1973, when the Supreme Court issued the Roe v.

Wade decision legalizing abortion, McDonough issued a statement calling the day "Blue Monday" and saying that it was "overtly a violation of individual rights.

lieutenant comes at a time too when efforts have been made to close down the war in Vietnam and to save the lives of all the people who have been endangered by that war. Now we hear the highest court in the land has declared an assault upon the life of the unborn child."

Death

McDonough died in Darby, Pennsylvania, aged 86.

He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Louisville.

Achievements

• Thomas J. McDonough has been listed as a noteworthy archbishop by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

At age 35, he was then the youngest member of the American hierarchy.