Banished Priest Fr. Richard Gorman Dead at 63

By David Greene
Bronx Chronicle
January 27, 2018

http://thebronxchronicle.com/2018/01/27/banished-priest-fr-richard-gorman-dead-at-63/

Banished priest and accused child molester Father Richard Gorman died Tuesday, January 23, at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx. He was 63.

Archdiocese of New York spokesman Joseph Zwilling confirmed Thursday morning, “It is true that he passed away, yes.”

Zwilling continued, “I really don’t have very much in the way of details, other than he passed away two nights ago at Jacobi Hospital.”

Father Richard Gorman (center) at an Anti-violence rally with Senator Charles Schumer and former Councilman Larry Seabrook, on White Plains Road on November 15, 2009.–Photo by David Greene

Zwilling called Gorman’s death, “sudden and unexpected.” Zwilling explained that the case against Gorman was still be prosecuted at the time of his death.

Adding that the Archdiocese was in touch with Gorman’s family, Zwilling was asked if a press release would be issued with funeral arrangements, when Zwilling replied, “I don’t think we’ll be putting out a release based on the unfortunate allegations from two-years ago.”

After the accusations by at least two former parishioners at St. Barnabas Church in the Woodlawn section in the 1980’s, Gorman was suspended from church duties on January 21, 2016 and stepped down as Chair of Community Board # 12.

Joe Thompson, a local activist who often attended community meetings and rallies and got to know Gorman over the years, said at the time, “I don’t know what happened 30 years-ago, but any allegation of this nature has to be investigated.”