John R. Gorman

John Robert Gorman (December 11, 1925 – June 1, 2025) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Gorman served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese 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.

Biography Early life Gorman was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 11, 1925. He attended Visitation Elementary School in Chicago. After deciding to enter the priesthood, Gorman enrolled at the Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, the minor seminary in Chicago. Gorman then attended St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, where he was awarded his Licentiate in Theology and Bachelor of Theology degree. 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. At the same time, he served was a faculty member at Archbishop Quigley, the Niles College Seminary in Chicago, the Loyola Pastoral Studies Institute in Chicago, and the Notre Dame University summer school. For the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Gorman in 1996 served on the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse.

Retirement and death On January 24, 2003, Gorman's letter of retirement as auxiliary bishop of Chicago was accepted by John Paul II.