Cushing, Richard J.

Cushing, Richard J. (James)

(1895–1970) Catholic prelate; born in Boston, Mass. Ordained in 1921, he worked for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and was Boston's auxiliary bishop (from 1939) then archbishop (1944). He established numerous schools and charitable institutions; he also founded the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle, which sends priests as missionaries to South America. Cushing was made a cardinal in 1958. Blunt-spoken, making no claim to be a conventional scholar-priest, he was also known for his close ties to the Kennedy family.