Former St. Joe's priest is focus of sex allegations
The Rev. H. Cornell Bradley, who quit last year, is accused of misconduct.
By Michael Matza
Inquirer Staff Writer
Calling the allegations against a former Saint Joseph's University campus minister "deeply disturbing," university president Timothy R. Lannon alerted the campus community yesterday to an investigation of the Rev. H. Cornell Bradley, a Jesuit priest who worked at the campus for more than a decade before leaving last year.
The investigation is conducted by the Maryland Province Society of Jesus, a Jesuit governing body, which found that Bradley had engaged in "sexual misconduct with an adult male during the early 1980s" and cited four other alleged incidents involving minors and adults over three decades.
Saint Joseph's hired Bradley in 1995 and he resigned in January 2006, according to Lannon's statement to students, faculty and alumni, which appended a letter from the province stating that Bradley "verified substantial details" of one of the allegations and "said he is unable to deny" another of the incidents.
Maryland Province spokeswoman Kate Pipkin last night said Bradley continues to be a Jesuit priest but his pastoral privileges have been suspended. He lives "under supervision" in a Jesuit community on the Eastern seaboard which she declined to identify. She said he has been instructed not to speak to the media.
"He doesn't leave the premises except in the company of another Jesuit," she said.
As for how Bradley came to be hired at Saint Joseph's without its knowledge of his problem, she said, "In hindsight, they should have been informed but things were done differently back then."
Efforts to reach the university last night were not successful.
In his statement, Lannon - though stressing that Saint Joe's was unaware of any incidents during Bradley's time at the school - nonetheless asked anyone with "information about misconduct to contact the Maryland Province Victim Assistance coordinator," or, if the allegations involve criminal activity, campus and local police.
These latest revelations are part of a larger picture developed over recent years in which clergy of various denominations were found to have abused their pastoral power by engaging in sexual activity with people they counseled.
When allegations first surfaced against Bradley and were brought to the attention of the Maryland Province in 1993, the head of the organization "mandated residential psychiatric care for Father Bradley. Upon completing the treatment, and on the recommendation of the staff of his residential treatment program, Father Bradley returned to ministry in 1995."
Contact staff writer Michael Matza at 215-854-2541 or mmatza@phillynews.com.
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4 comments:
Yes. Very disgusting.
This definitely sets me back with the Catholic church. I do not like the way they have handled these situations. I don't like the way they move a "bad" priest to another area to CYA and then it happens again in this area. Now I find myself looking at EVERY priest in this manner.
Off the soapbox,
irv
yeah
I get tired of reading of all these crazy sex people
two family guys got caught last week in Crofton--weirdos
I dont think they can cure them--it seems they dont get cured--nor will
I think all of them get off too easy--yeah jail for 5 yrs or so but then out
I dont know why these guys arent prosecuted--why arent they all in jail.
Not good!
Gonzaga Priest Accused Of Sexual Misconduct With Minors
Church Searches For Potential Victims
POSTED: 4:53 pm EST February 5, 2007
UPDATED: 6:30 pm EST February 5, 2007
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WASHINGTON -- A priest, who once taught at Gonzaga High School in Northwest Washington, is accused of sexual misconduct going back to the 1970s.
The Rev. Cornell Bradley, a Jesuit priest, has not been charged in the case. He allegedly had inappropriate sexual conduct with a man, woman and three minors. Two of the allegations center around then-15-year-old boys who attended Gonzaga about 30 years ago.
Bradley taught at Gonzaga from 1962 to 1965 and from 1972 to 1979.
The Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus acknowledges that there were allegations made against Bradley years ago but said he received psychiatric treatment in 1993 and was returned to the ministry.
In a letter the society states: "Allowing Father Bradley to return to ministry after his 1993 treatment may have seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but such action now contradicts the Maryland Province Pastoral Conduct Policies, instituted in 2004."
An official with the society said Bradley acknowledged some of the allegations and couldn't deny others.
Bradley was removed from active ministry last year.
The church is now sending letters to places where Bradley lived and worked, including Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown. Officials said while Bradley was never a staff member at Holy Trinity, he did live there from 1970 to 1976.
Letters about the allegations are also being sent out to churches and schools where he taught in Baltimore, North Carolina, Philadelphia and India.
The church said it wants to know if there are any more potential victims. The letter also reads in part: "Maryland Province officials want to know if anyone else has been abused by Father Bradley. Every institution where Father Bradley worked or lived during the time he has been a Jesuit is being contacted."
Authorities said no charges have been filed in the case because either the victims didn't want to press charges or the statute of limitations has run out.
A spokesperson said Bradley now lives in a Jesuit community under supervision. She also said Bradley can remain a priest but he will not be allowed to work with the public again.
Copyright 2007 by nbc4.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
This time it is personal. Cornell is my uncle's (dad's brother) wife's brother, but growing up we knew him as our uncle and surely we were his nephews. Very proud to always speak of my 'uncle' the Jesuit priest. And everyone who came in contact with him all thought the same of him--a great guy. Never in a million years would I have suspected one iota wrong with him. Shocked last night at 11p to get a call from my brother that this story was being broadcast on Baltimore news? I said you must have heard the name wrong. So, still in shock--as well as very disappointed/ mad/ sad, etc.
Gerry
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