Robert Henry Brom (September 18, 1938 – May 9, 2022) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Duluth in Minnesota, from 1983 to 1989, and as bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in Southern California from 1990 to 2013.


Robert Brom
Bishop of San Diego
DioceseSan Diego
AppointedApril 22, 1989 (Coadjutor)
InstalledJuly 10, 1990
Term endedSeptember 18, 2013
PredecessorLeo Thomas Maher
SuccessorCirilo Flores
Previous post(s)Bishop of Duluth (1983–89)
Orders
OrdinationDecember 18, 1963
ConsecrationMay 23, 1983
by John Robert Roach, Loras Joseph Watters, and Paul Francis Anderson
Personal details
Born(1938-09-18)September 18, 1938
DiedMay 9, 2022(2022-05-09) (aged 83)
San Diego, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
DenominationCatholic
MottoEgo Sum Christi (English: "I Belong to Christ")
Ordination history of
Robert Brom
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byJohn Robert Roach (Saint Paul and Minneapolis)
DateJuly 10, 1990
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Robert Brom as principal consecrator
Salvatore J. CordileoneAugust 21, 2002
Styles of
Robert Henry Brom
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

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Early life and priesthood

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Brom was born in Arcadia, Wisconsin, on September 18, 1938. Brom was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Winona on December 18, 1963.[1]

Bishop of Duluth

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On March 25, 1983, Pope John Paul II appointed Brom as bishop of the Diocese of Duluth. He was consecrated on May 23, 1983, by Archbishop John Roach at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth, Minnesota.[1]

On April 22, 1989, Pope John Paul II appointed Brom as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of San Diego to assist Bishop Leo Maher.[1]

Bishop of San Diego

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On July 10, 1990, after Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Bishop Maher, Brom automatically became the new bishop of the Diocese of San Diego.[2][1]

On September 7, 2007, the Diocese of San Diego agreed to a $200 million settlement to victims of childhood sexual abuse by priests serving in the diocese since its founding in 1935. Brom apologized to the victims and said that the offenders' histories would be made public.[3]

Brom was responsible for the creation of two Catholic high schools:

Brom also created a pastoral center in San Diego after selling the former chancery building to the University of San Diego.

On January 4, 2012, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Vigano, announced that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed Auxiliary Bishop Cirilo Flores as coadjutor bishop to Brom in the diocese.[4][5]

Retirement and legacy

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Pope Francis accepted Brom's resignation on the latter's 75th birthday, September 18, 2013. He was succeeded automatically by Bishop Flores.[1] Robert Brom died in San Diego on May 9, 2022, at age 83.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Robert Henry Brom [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  2. ^ "New Page 1". Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  3. ^ Archibold, Randal C. (2007-09-08). "San Diego Diocese Settles Lawsuit for $200 Million". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times: "Orange County auxiliary bishop named Catholic bishop of San Diego" January 4, 2012
  5. ^ Catholic News Agency: "Bishop Cirilo Flores to help oversee San Diego diocese" January 4, 2012
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of San Diego
1990–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Duluth
1983–1989
Succeeded by