John Francis Donoghue (August 9, 1928 – November 11, 2011) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina from 1984 to 1993 and as the fifth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in Georgia from 1993 to 2004.
While originally planning to remain a parish priest, Donoghue was asked in 1964 to study for a Licentiate of Canon Law at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[2] On completion of his degree, he was assigned to the archbishop's office. For the next 18 years, Donoghue served on the staff for three cardinals: Patrick O'Boyle, William Baum, and James Hickey. From 1972 until 1983, Donoghue also filled the offices of chancellor and vicar general for that archdiocese. In 1984, Donoghue was appointed moderator of the curia.[4]
Bishop of Charlotte
On November 6, 1984, Pope John Paul II appointed Donoghue as the second bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte. He was consecrated at Owens Auditorium in Charlotte on December 18, 1984, by Bishop Michael Begley.[1]
On June 22, 1993, John Paul II appointed Donoghue as the sixth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, replacing Archbishop James P. Lyke.[5] Donoghue was installed on August 19, 1993.[1]
On becoming archbishop, Donoghue began a program of school building to accommodate the growing population of the archdiocese. He also worked to provide more Spanish-speaking priests for the increased Hispanic population.[6]
In April 2004, Donoghue sent an edict to the priests in the archdiocese forbidding the selection of women to perform the traditional foot washing ceremony on Holy Thursday.[7]
Retirement
John Paul II accepted Donoghue's resignation as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta on December 9, 2004; he was succeeded by Bishop Wilton D. Gregory.[1]
Donoghue said in 2004 that Catholic politicians who support abortion rights for women should be denied communion.[2]
Sexual abuse scandal
Donoghue made this statement in 1993 about the sexual abuse of minors by priest scandal in the late 20th century:
"Never before in our experience has the credibility of the priesthood itself been so shaken by the actions of some of our priests. Because we live under the shadow of their indiscretions, we are forced to take the witness stand of life and demonstrate by our lives and our actions that we indeed are men of integrity, men of God.”[2]
