John Robert Gorman | |
|---|---|
| Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Chicago Titular Bishop ofCatula | |
| Archdiocese | Chicago |
| Appointed | February 16, 1988 |
| Installed | April 11, 1988 |
| Retired | January 24, 2003 |
| Other post | Titular Bishop ofCatula (1988–2025) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 1, 1952 by Samuel Stritch |
| Consecration | April 11, 1988 by Joseph Bernardin,Alfred Leo Abramowicz, andNevin William Hayes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1925-12-11)December 11, 1925 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 1, 2025(2025-06-01) (aged 99) |
| Education | St. Mary of the Lake Seminary Loyola University Chicago |
| Motto | In spiritu Jesu (In the spirit of Jesus) |
| Styles of John Robert Gorman | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
John Robert Gorman (December 11, 1925 – June 1, 2025) was an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church. Gorman served as anauxiliary bishop of theArchdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1988 to 2003. During his tenure as auxiliary bishop, Gorman was instrumental in the creation of the first internal review panel for sexual abuse allegations in an American archdiocese.
Gorman was born inChicago, Illinois, on December 11, 1925. He attended Visitation Elementary School in Chicago. After deciding to enter the priesthood, Gorman enrolled at theArchbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, the minor seminary in Chicago.[1] Gorman then attendedSt. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, where he was awarded hisLicentiate in Theology andBachelor of Theology degree.[1] Gorman later receivedMaster of Psychology andDoctor of Clinical Psychology degrees fromLoyola University Chicago.[1]
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On May 1, 1952, Gorman was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago at Saint Mary of the Lake by CardinalSamuel Stritch.[2] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Gorman as an associate pastor in the Chicago parishes of St. Andrew, St. Odilo, and St. Nicholas of Tolentine.[3] At the same time, he served was a faculty member at Archbishop Quigley, theNiles College Seminary in Chicago, the Loyola Pastoral Studies Institute in Chicago, and theNotre Dame University summer school.[1]
In 1965, Gorman was appointed president of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. At that time, theSecond Vatican Council was changing seminarian education worldwide. In a 2021 interview,[3]Gorman remarked:
When I was there (as a seminarian), everything was silent in the buildings and everything was concentrated on the individual. Vatican II defined the church as being in service to the people. We started doing things with the seminarians in groups, with prayer and formation. We sent them out to the parishes when they were still in seminary so they could have contact with the people, because that’s where the guys would be working.[3]
In 1973, Gorman was assigned as pastor to St. Michael Parish inOrland Park, Illinois. Gorman became director of the archdiocesan Department of Parish/Pastoral Services in 1986.[1]
On February 16, 1988,Pope John Paul II appointed Gorman as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago andtitular bishop ofCatula. He was consecrated on April 11, 1988, by CardinalJoseph Bernardin, with Auxiliary BishopsAlfred Abramowicz, andNevin Hayes serving as co-consecrators.[2] Bernardin first assigned Gorman assigned asepiscopal vicar of Vicariate I in the archdiocese. In 1990, Bernardin named him asvicar general/vicar for regional services. In 1995, the archbishop assigned Gorman to Vicariate V.[1]
In 1992, Gorman served on a three-person commission investigatingsexual abuse allegations in the archdiocese and how the archdiocese was handling them. The commission singled out 59 allegations of sexual abuse against priests, 39 of them being well founded. On June 16, 1992, the commission released its recommendations, including the establishment of an independent review panel to judge all allegations. Bernadin later implemented the proposed reforms.[4] For theUS Conference of Catholic Bishops, Gorman in 1996 served on the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse.[5]
On January 24, 2003, Gorman's letter of retirement as auxiliary bishop of Chicago was accepted by John Paul II.[2] Gorman died on June 1, 2025, at the age of 99.[6]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Titular Bishop of Catula 1988–2025 | Succeeded by Vacant |
| Preceded by – | Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago 1988–2003 | Succeeded by – |
