Norbert Dorsey

Norbert Mary Leonard James Dorsey, C.P. (December 13, 1929 – February 21, 2013) was the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami (1986–1990) and the third Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando (1990–2004).

Dorsey made profession as a member of the priestly order of Congregation of the Passion on August 15, 1949 when he was 19 years old. On April 28, 1956, he was ordained a priest in that order. In 1976, Fr. Dorsey was elected assistant general of the Passionists worldwide, and re-elected in 1982.

Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Mactaris and an auxiliary bishop of Miami on January 19, 1986, and on March 19, 1986, he was consecrated by Archbishop Edward Anthony McCarthy of Miami as the principal consecrator: and as co-consecrators Bishop Joseph Francis Maguire of the Diocese of Springfield and Bishop Reginald Edward Vincent Arliss, C.P. of the Territorial Prelature of Marbel (now Roman Catholic Diocese of Marbel). On March 20, 1990, he was appointed the third Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando and on November 13, 2004, he retired upon reaching 75 years of age.

He received several awards and honors: named a Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (KCHS) for his work on behalf of Near East refugees in 1978; given the Peace and Unity Award of the St. Martin Porres Association of Miami, Florida for building bridges of harmony between races and cultures, 1989; the Appreciation Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews Interfaith Council of Miami 1990; the Founding President Award of the National Council of Christians and Jews, Orlando Chapter, 1991; the Pierre Toussaint Medallion from the Office of Black Ministry of Archdiocese of New York, presented at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York by John Joseph Cardinal O'Connor, for special merit in the service of freedom, human rights, and spiritual values in the black community on May 5, 1996; and the Appreciation Award of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 2001.

Dorsey died after a long battle with cancer in Orlando, Florida at age 83.