ST. LOUIS (MO)
Berger’s Beat
. .Father John Jay Hughes has been granted “retirement status,” according to archdiocesan officials. Hughes’ 15 minutes of fame came in the early 1990s when he appeared on the Phil Donahue Show. Producers couldn’t find a single U.S. Catholic bishop or official to be on a segment discussing pedophile priests. SNAP’s David Clohessy, slated to be on the program, recommended the priest to Donahue’s staffers because Hughes had stridently defended the church hierarchy in several op-eds. More recently, Hughes – then at Christ the King parish in U. City – told reporters he was “unaware of the circumstances” of Fr. Joseph D. Ross’ departure from that parish – and St. Cronin’s – due to abuse charges.”. .
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