Timothy Doherty

Timothy Doherty was born on September 29, 1950. in Rockford, Illinois, the eldest of seven children of Lawrence and June Doherty.[2] He attended St. Mary Minor Seminary in Crystal Lake, Illinois, from 1964 to 1968.[1] He then attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972.[2] Doherty studied for the priesthood in Rome at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University, receiving a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1975.[2]

On June 26, 1976, Doherty was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockford by Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill.[3] His first assignment was as an associate pastor at the Cathedral of St. Peter Parish in Rockford, where he remained for five years.[1] He then furthered his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in moral theology from the Alfonsian Academy in 1982.[2]

Following his return to Illinois, Doherty taught religious studies at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford from 1982 to 1986.[1] He served as assistant principal and head of the religion department at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Illinois, from 1986 to 1991.[1] Then beginning his doctoral studies at Loyola University Chicago, he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Christian Ethics in 1995.[2] That same year, he was appointed diocesan ethicist for health care issues, a position which he continues to hold.[2] From 1996 to 1999, he was an associate pastor at Saint Anthony College of Nursing in Rockford, teaching courses in theology and health care ethics.[2]

In 1999, Doherty was named as parochial administrator of St. James Parish in Lee, Illinois.[1] He then served as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Byron, Illinois, from 1999 to 2007.[2] After 2007, he became pastor of both St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Dundee, Illinois, and St. Mary Mission Parish in Gilberts, Illinois.[2]

On May 12, 2010, Doherty was appointed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana by Benedict XVI.[3] He succeeded Bishop William Higi, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in August 2008.[4] Doherty received his episcopal consecration from Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein on July 15, 2010.[5] As bishop, Doherty has served as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People.[6]

On July 1, 2020, Doherty suspended Father Theodore Rothrock, a priest at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Carmel, Indiana, from public ministry. In a Sunday bulletin, Rothrock had describe Black Lives Matter organizers as parasites and maggots. Rothrock later apologized for his statement.[7]