Peter J. Muldoon (October 10, 1863 – October 8, 1927) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Rockford in Illinois from 1908 until his death in 1927. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1901 to 1908. Muldoon served as chair of the National Catholic War Council during World War I and was a leader of the National Catholic Welfare Council during the 1920s. Biography Early life Peter Muldoon was born on October 10, 1863, in Columbia, California to Irish immigrants John and Catherine (Coughlin) Muldoon. He was the oldest child in a family of five children. Muldoon attended public schools in Stockton, California, then in 1877 entered St. Mary's College in St. Mary, Kentucky, where his uncle, the Reverend John Coughlin, was a faculty member. In 1881, Muldoon enrolled at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.When John Coughlin was transferred to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Muldoon applied to be incardinated there. Muldoon was ordained a priest by Bishop John Loughlin for the Archdiocese of Chicago on December 18, 1886. Muldoon served as chancellor of the archdiocese and secretary from 1888 to 1895 for Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan. He spent the next 13 years as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Chicago. Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago On 25 July, 1901, Pope Leo XIII appointed Muldoon as titular bishop of Tamassus and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He was consecrated on July 25, 1901 by Cardinal Sebastiano Martinelli at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. After his ordination, Muldoon was assigned as an assistant pastor at St. Pius Parish in Chicago. After noticing Muldoon's abilities, Archbishop Patrick Feehan appointed him as his secretary. His appointment raised jealously among many local priests and German priests resentful of Irish clergy. Some of these discontented priests engaged in character defamation against Muldoon - one of them was ultimatelyexcommunicated by Feehan for these actions. Muldoon was appointed as vicar-general of the archdiocese. As auxiliary bishop, Muldoon became very interested in the welfare of working people. He would visit the Union Stock Yards, the meat packing district in Chicago. and speak with workers there. He became a strong proponent of labor unions. When Feehan died on July 12, 1902, Muldoon was named as archdiocesan administrator. While there was some support for naming Muldoon