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public schools. Students in these schools that were run by Protestants were reading books that described Irish immigrants as“ drunken” and“ depraved.” Hughes wanted to end religious discrimination in public schools. Eventually, he had the Maclay Bill passed, which prohibited religious instruction in public schools(“ Most Rev. John J. Hughes, DD”). Not everyone favored this outcome, though, and anti-Catholics made threats against the Church. It did not deter Hughes one bit. If anything, he became even more protective of the New York Catholics. For example, when Hughes saw Catholic churches and homes being burned in Philadelphia, he threatened New York’ s mayor that he would burn down the whole city if anyone bothered just one of New York’ s Catholic churches( Hall). To further protect his flock, Hughes also created the parochial school system, a private Catholic school system that still exists today( Hall). Hughes understood that a good education is the best form of protection. He tended to his flock by helping them help themselves.
Hughes exemplified altruism with many projects in New York City to benefit Catholic Americans. First, in addition to creating the parochial school system, Hughes also founded Catholic schools for older students including Saint John’ s College( now Fordham University). He was“ always a man eager to spread God’ s holy Word” and believed that a religious education created opportunities(“ Archbishop John Hughes”). Second, when Irish immigrants were struggling in their new country, Hughes served the community by helping them find work and creating an orphanage( Stern). He wanted to help people create their own productive life. As the immigrant population and number of Catholics in New York grew, New York was made an archdiocese and Hughes its first archbishop( Stern). One of Hughes’ first acts as archbishop was announcing his plans to build St. Patrick’ s Cathedral, a church that would
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