Bishop Thomas Doran

Bishop Doran is a native of Rockford. He attended St. James Catholic Grade School, Campion High School, Loras College and St. Pius X Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.

Upon his graduation in 1958, he was assigned to Theological Studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome by then Bishop Loras T. Lane, Bishop of Rockford. Ordained to the priesthood on December 20, 1961, he finished his studies and was awarded a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1962. Upon his return to the Diocese of Rockford, he served in many administrative, judicial and pastoral areas until 1975. Bishop Doran returned to Rome to complete a doctorate in Canon Law from 1975-1978. On returning to the Diocese he again served many administrative areas, most especially as Chancellor, Judicial Vicar, Vicar for Catholic Education and Rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter until 1986.

In the Spring of 1986, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, appointed him to be Prelate Auditor of the Roman Rota in Rome. He served on the Roman Rota until his appointment as Bishop of Rockford in April of 1994. Bishop Doran was ordained and installed as the Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Rockford on June 24, 1994. On September 2, 2000, the Holy Father recognized the Diocese of Rockford and Bishop Doran by naming him a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. On March 2, 2001, Pope John Paul II named Bishop Doran a bishop member of the Congregation for the Clergy.

Bishop Doran currently serves on the following Committees and Boards:

President of the Institute on Religious Life
Board of Catholics United for the Faith
Trustee for The Catholic University of America

Bishop Doran previously served on the following Committees and Boards:

Subcommittee to draft the US Bishops' application of plan to implement Ex Corde Ecclesiae
Consultant to the Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism
The subcommittee to study the Interdicasterial Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests
Ad Hoc Committee on the Forum
Board of National Rural Life Conference
Chairman of Region VII Bishops
Administrative Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (1997-2000)
Administrative Board of the U.S. Catholic Conference (1997-2000)
Mixed Commission to revise the "Essential Norms" for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons
Commission on Science and Human Values
Committee on Women in Society and in the Church
Common Ground Initiative
Chairman of the USCCB Canonical Affairs Committee
Administrative Committee of the USCCB
Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse of Minors
Episcopal Board of Advisors for the cause of Archbishop Sheen's Beatification (2009)

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