C. John McCloskey
C. John McCloskey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charles John McCloskey III |
| Died | February 23, 2023 Template:Ordination |
The Reverend Father Charles John McCloskey III, S.T.D. (1953 – February 23, 2023) served as a Catholic priest affiliated with the Prelature of Opus Dei and was a member of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. He gained recognition as an author, spiritual guide, and was previously the director of the Catholic Information Center (CIC) within the Archdiocese of Washington. Prior to his ordination in 1981 by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, he held positions at Citibank and Merrill Lynch on Wall Street.
Biography
Born in 1953 and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, McCloskey completed his early education at St. Jane de Chantal Elementary School (class of 1967) and St. John's College High School (class of 1971). He obtained a bachelor's degree in Economics from Columbia University in 1975 and later earned his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) from the University of Navarra in Spain in 1982.
His priestly ordination for the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei took place at the Shrine of Torreciudad in Spain in 1981. McCloskey passed away on February 23, 2023, as a result of complications related to advanced Alzheimer's disease. A funeral Mass was celebrated on March 1, 2023, at Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Great Falls, Virginia, and he was laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery located in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Writing, television appearances, and pastoral activities
McCloskey was well-known for his pastoral essays published on platforms such as The Catholic Thing and Catholicity.com. Among his works is the book The Essential Belloc - A Prophet for Our Times.
He also hosted multiple series on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), covering topics including Cardinal Newman, Catholic writers, Ecclesial Movements, Church history, religious vocations, and St. Thomas More.
During his tenure as director of the Catholic Information Center (CIC) in Washington, D.C., McCloskey extended his pastoral ministry to locations such as Princeton, New Jersey, and Chicago. His spiritual guidance played a role in the conversions of prominent individuals including Newt Gingrich, Sam Brownback, Lawrence Kudlow, Robert Novak, and Bernard Nathanson.
Sexual misconduct scandal
In November 2002, Opus Dei received a substantiated allegation concerning sexual misconduct by McCloskey during his leadership at the Catholic Information Center. After an inquiry, he was removed from his role as director and subjected to limitations regarding pastoral interactions with women. In 2005, Opus Dei reached a settlement amounting to $977,000 with the complainant.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts (1975) in Economics from Columbia University
- Sacred Theology studies at Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
- Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) from University of Navarra
Books
- (2010) The Essential Belloc - A Visionary for Contemporary Times,
External links
- 20th-century American Roman Catholic priests
- Opus Dei members
- Merrill (company) people
- Citigroup people
- American investment bankers
- Columbia College (New York) alumni
- Pontifical University of the Holy Cross alumni
- University of Navarra alumni
- 1953 births
- 21st-century American Roman Catholic priests
- Deaths from Alzheimer's disease
- People from Bethesda, Maryland
- Religious leaders from Maryland
- 2023 deaths