Emerson John Moore (May 16, 1938 – September 14, 1995) was an African-American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1982 to 1995.

[3][4] Moore studied for the priesthood at Cathedral College in Manhattan and at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.

[3] On May 30, 1964, Moore was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal Francis Spellman at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan.

"[1] In 1969, he became director of the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Community Center and of the central office of Catholic Charities, both in Harlem.

[6] He received his episcopal consecration on September 8, 1982, from Cardinal Terence Cooke, with Archbishop John Maguire and Bishop Harold Perry serving as co-consecrators.

"[9] That same year, Moore was arrested alongside City Clerk David Dinkins during an anti-apartheid protest outside of the South African consulate in Manhattan.

[4] In 1990, Moore was the only bishop to sign an appeal made by Call to Action for major reforms in the Catholic Church, including the ordination of women and the repeal of clerical celibacy.

He would periodically leave his public ministry to seek treatment, often missing events and suffering from financial difficulties.