John Gorman, John Robert Gorman, a US Roman Catholic bishop, was born December 11, 1925, and died June 1, 2025. Gorman was auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1988 until 2003. Gorman helped create the first archdiocese-wide internal review committee for sexual abuse reports as an auxiliary bishop.
John Gorman Obituary : His Biography and Legal Legacy
John Gorman A personal biography
Early life Gorman was born in Chicago on December 11, 1925. In Chicago, he attended Visitation Elementary. After choosing priesthood, Gorman attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. Gorman then received a Bachelor of Theology and Licentiate in Theology at Mundelein’s St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. Gorman then got a Master of Science and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago.
John Gorman Religious Order
Mundelein, Illinois’ St. Mary of the Lake Seminary (2008)
On May 1, 1956, Cardinal Samuel Stritch ordained Gorman a Chicago Archbishop priest at Saint Mary of the Lake. The archdiocese named Gorman an associate priest at St. Odilo, St. Andrew, and St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Chicago after his ordination. He taught at Archbishop Quigley’s school, Chicago’s Niles College Seminary, Loyola’s Chicago Pastoral Studies Institute, and Notre Dame’s summer program.
Gorman became St. Mary of the Lake Seminary president in 1965. The Second Vatican Council changed seminary curriculum worldwide. Gorman said in a 2021 interview:
I saw a lack of background noise and a focused concentration on each individual across buildings as a seminarian. Vatican II says the church serves the people. Seminarians started group prayer and formation. We sent the men to parishes while they were at seminary to meet locals because they would serve.
Gorman’s 1973 church was St. Michael Parish in Orland Park, Illinois. Gorman became the archdiocese’s Department of Parish/Pastoral Services director in 1986.
Bishop Gorman was named auxiliary bishop of Chicago and titular bishop of Catula by Pope John Paul II on February 16, 1988. Auxiliary Bishops Alfred Abramowicz and Nevin Hayes conducted the consecration of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin on April 11, 1988. Gorman became episcopal vicar of Vicariate I in the archdiocese under Bernardin. Bernardin named him regional services vicar in 1990. The archbishop named Gorman to Vicariate V in 1995.
Gorman was on a 1992 three-person commission that investigated sexual abuse charges and the archdiocese’s reaction. The panel found 39 plausible grounds for clergy sexual abuse charges out of 59. On June 16, 1992, the commission’s recommendations, including an independent review body for all allegations, were released. After that, Bernadin implemented the adjustments. Gorman served on the 1996 US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse.
John Gorman Old age, death
John Paul II received Gorman’s resignation letter as Chicago’s auxiliary bishop on January 24, 2003. Gorman (99) died June 1, 2025.
Honoring John Gorman
In moments like these, we feel the loss deeply. John Gorman had a profound impact on many lives.
You are welcome to comment below if you have any memories or ideas to share. Let’s come together to remember and celebrate his life.
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