John Francis Donoghue

[1] After his ordination, Donoghue was assigned as assistant pastor at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Riverdale Park, Maryland, from 1955 to 1961.

[2][3] 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.

[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] 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.