Local News Archive

Print Issue: March 21, 2002

'Dedicated To Doing The Right Thing' Msgr. Louis Naughton Dies at Age 64

By Gretchen Keiser, Staff Writer

ATLANTA - A man who was traditionally reserved, Msgr. Louis Naughton shared the last five months of his life unreservedly with all those who wanted to be with him.

He was able to remain at the rectory of the Cathedral of Christ the King, his home since 1988, as he wanted, after being diagnosed in October with pancreatic cancer. Cared for by nurses, staff, clergy, parishioners and friends, he died there early March 14 at the age of 64.

A native of Galway, Ireland, born Aug. 14, 1937, Msgr. Naughton was one of 11 children of James and Christina Naughton, who became a priest only after first embarking on a career as a civil engineer, specializing in prestressed concrete. He held bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering and a post-graduate diploma in concrete technology.

As a graduate student at the University of Leeds in the north of England he was an active Catholic layman, drawn in to representing the interests of Catholics on the campus when they experienced ignorance of or opposition to their beliefs.

His honorary life membership in the Leeds University Catholic Society is "something I will always value very much," he said in a 1992 interview in The Georgia Bulletin.

Ordained July 11, 1971, in Galway, for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Msgr. Naughton served as an assistant pastor at Holy Cross Church, Atlanta, at Sacred Heart Church, Atlanta, at St. Jude Church, Atlanta, and the Cathedral, while also serving as priest-secretary of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission and as director of the permanent diaconate program, both of which reflected new developments following Vatican II. He came to Atlanta because of the influence of Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, who was instrumental in the liturgical reform movement that was unfolding during the Council, and he prepared for the priesthood at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, where he received several degrees, including a master of arts in theology. He was pastor for one year of St. Mary's Church, Toccoa.

In 1984, he was asked to study canon law. Msgr. Naughton began working in the Tribunal, handling annulment petitions, and received his licentiate from Catholic University of America. He remained in the Tribunal for 17 years, taking on positions of increasing responsibility. He was named judicial vicar of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in September 1992, a position he held until Oct. 31, 2001, when he resigned because of his illness.

He had been sick since last summer. After successful surgery for prostate cancer, he didn't fully recover his strength. Further tests revealed pancreatic cancer.

He was immediately open and candid after receiving the diagnosis, letting people visit him as often as his strength permitted, traveling back to Ireland to visit his family and friends, and the Marian shrine in Knock.

Deacon Whitney Robichaux, who accompanied him, said the shrine was "the first place he wanted to go. He hoped for a miracle, but he was accepting of whatever would happen."

Those who knew Msgr. Naughton in his role at the Tribunal often experienced his careful regard for church law, but there were many other sides to him as well, his colleagues said.

"From my standpoint he was very faithful," said Deacon Robichaux, who has managed the Tribunal office since 1996. "He would tell you what the church's teachings were. Not many people knew also that if you went to him and said, 'I have a situation-what are my alternatives pastorally?' He would work with you."

When an annulment petition could not be judged favorably because the grounds were not there, "he agonized and spent weeks working on things before he would finally write up a negative decision," he said. The court handles 800 to 900 active cases a year and he would work into the evenings, six days a week, the deacon said.

"He was very dedicated to doing the right thing for the people, but also to observing church law."

He was also "very dedicated to the bishops he served under," the deacon said. "As far as I was concerned (he was) a very good example for all of us."

Bob Kampine, court administrator, said Msgr. Naughton "was an extremely kind man to work for and a good, holy priest, too. He is the kind that gives the church a good name instead of notoriety."

A tribute written by Msgr. Tom Kenny, rector of the Cathedral, and staff member Margaret Jones captured another facet of his personality.

"His morning routine was legendary. He was usually scheduled for 6:45 a.m. Mass. After Mass he would use this quiet time of the day for prayer. Then it was off to breakfast at the rectory where he would grab the crossword puzzle from the morning paper, fill it out completely in ink while carrying on a lively discussion with whomever was at the breakfast table and eating his oatmeal at the same time."

Father Brian Higgins, parochial vicar at the Cathedral, said the senior priest was very helpful "to a new priest," giving him little tips on everything, including "don't forget the housekeeper at Christmastime."

"He was always so very thoughtful," Father Higgins said, even to bringing small crucifixes back from Ireland each year for the Cathedral's 120 altar servers and giving them out personally.

Parishioners would call and ask when he would be hearing confessions, said staff member Phyllis Wigton. He was famous among the staff for arriving with gifts that needed wrapping to be given to friends.

A Mass celebrated for him in mid-January at the Cathedral spontaneously brought 40 priests and over 100 people to pray for his healing. "That really touched him," Deacon Robichaux said.

Given the honor of anointing his priest-friend with the sacrament of the sick, Father Higgins said Msgr. Naughton turned it into a "teaching moment," when he started anointing the palm, rather than the back of the priest's hand. Right there, in a whisper, "he went through the whole explanation," of the proper way to anoint a priest and the reason behind it, Father Higgins said, with affectionate laughter. "It took about 10 seconds."

"He was a gentle, sweet priest, in love with Jesus, in love with the priesthood."

Msgr. Naughton was appointed a prelate of honor with the title of monsignor in 1994 and he was also a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher.

"His faith was strong," Deacon Robichaux said. Going to noon Mass at the Cathedral each day "was very important to him. It would get him out of bed a lot of mornings when he didn't feel well."

"About two weeks ago he dictated a thank you to all the people for helping him in his illness." He continued to pray audibly as long as he could speak, the deacon said. "A lot of people learned how to experience a Christian death" from him.

Msgr. Naughton is survived by five brothers, Aiden J. Naughton of California; Cecil J. Naughton, D.D.S., of London; John F. (Jack) Naughton of Philadelphia; Kevin P. Naughton, M.D., of California; and Michael D. Naughton of Scotland; and two sisters, Doreen B. Naughton of Dublin and Mary T. Molloy, M.D., of Galway,. He was preceded by his parents, one brother, J. Noel Naughton, M.D., and two sisters, M. Angela Kenny and Philomena Shea.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 or to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home, P.O. Box 6805, Atlanta, GA 30315.

(Coverage of Msgr. Naughton's wake and funeral mass will be in the March 28 issue of The Georgia Bulletin.)