The Vatican has reinstated Fr. Joseph Edward Bradley’s priestly faculties, according to a release Monday afternoon from the Diocese of Owensboro. Two allegations of former sexual assault led to his suspension from public ministry last year.
On March 1, 2019, Bradley — a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro — was temporarily suspended from public ministry by Bishop William F. Medley following a recommendation by the Diocesan Review Board that an allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor had been found credible. A second allegation came forth, with both dating from the 1980s when Bradley was Dean of Students and then Principal of Owensboro Catholic High School.
The Diocesan Review Board, a 12-member group, completed an investigation and on April 25, 2019, recommended to Medley that the allegations be deemed substantiated.
According to Monday’s release, Medley accepted the Diocesan Review Board’s counsel and submitted a report to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican, recommending that Bradley’s temporary suspension from public ministry be made permanent. Bradley, with his canonical counsel, filed an appeal of this decision with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
“Last week, Bishop Medley received word from the Vatican immediately reinstating Fr. Bradley’s priestly faculties and lifting the restrictions applied,” according to the release. “However, the Vatican decree notes ‘given the imprudent behavior of the cleric throughout the course of his ministry in education, the Congresso (Vatican body) imposes a penal precept (restriction) on the cleric, according to canon 1739, through which he is forbidden to enter any primary or secondary school for a period of five years.'”
Bradley was informed by Medley of this decision.
Bradley was already retired but worked part-time in a voluntary capacity as chaplain at Owensboro Catholic High School when the allegations were made.
