2008 Woodie Awards
Former SJU Jesuit admits to sexual misconduct
Vincent Jackson '07
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: News
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A Jesuit who worked as a campus minister at St. Joe's for ten years has been permanently removed from ministry after being accused of multiple acts of sexual misconduct and admitting to at least one illicit act.
A statement made last Monday by the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus revealed that H. Cornell Bradley, S.J. had "verified substantial details" of a sexual misconduct allegation made against him. The allegation, deemed "credible" by the Maryland Province, stated that Fr. Bradley engaged in an act of sexual misconduct with an adult male during the early 1980s.
Fr. Bradley has also been accused of engaging in an act of sexual misconduct with a minor in 1973. This allegation was brought against Fr. Bradley in late 2006, and according to the Maryland Province, Fr. Bradley has said that he is "unable to deny the allegation."
In addition to these two allegations, Fr. Bradley is also the subject of three other allegations of sexual misconduct, two of which involved minors. These acts are alleged to have occurred between 1968 and 1988.
These revelations jolted the St. Joe's community, of which Fr. Bradley had been a fixture from August 1995 to early 2006.
Although the Maryland Province was aware of Fr. Bradley's history of sexual misconduct and had mandated that he undergo residential psychiatric care, St. Joe's was not notified of Fr. Bradley's disturbing past until late 2006, according to Kate Pipkin, the media-relations person of the Maryland Province.
"Did we give full disclosure to St. Joe's? No, but we should have," said Pipkin. "We should have notified St. Joe's in 1995."
Both St. Joe's and the Maryland Province acknowledge that St. Joe's had no knowledge of Fr. Bradley's sexual misconduct during his tenure at the University. There is no evidence that Fr. Bradley engaged in any sexual misconduct during his ten years at St. Joe's.
While at St. Joe's, Fr. Bradley served as a campus minister and acted as a mentor to students, faculty, and staff participating in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises are a semester-long period of prayer and reflection that are designed to help participants come to a deeper understanding of themselves and their religious beliefs.
A statement made last Monday by the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus revealed that H. Cornell Bradley, S.J. had "verified substantial details" of a sexual misconduct allegation made against him. The allegation, deemed "credible" by the Maryland Province, stated that Fr. Bradley engaged in an act of sexual misconduct with an adult male during the early 1980s.
Fr. Bradley has also been accused of engaging in an act of sexual misconduct with a minor in 1973. This allegation was brought against Fr. Bradley in late 2006, and according to the Maryland Province, Fr. Bradley has said that he is "unable to deny the allegation."
In addition to these two allegations, Fr. Bradley is also the subject of three other allegations of sexual misconduct, two of which involved minors. These acts are alleged to have occurred between 1968 and 1988.
These revelations jolted the St. Joe's community, of which Fr. Bradley had been a fixture from August 1995 to early 2006.
Although the Maryland Province was aware of Fr. Bradley's history of sexual misconduct and had mandated that he undergo residential psychiatric care, St. Joe's was not notified of Fr. Bradley's disturbing past until late 2006, according to Kate Pipkin, the media-relations person of the Maryland Province.
"Did we give full disclosure to St. Joe's? No, but we should have," said Pipkin. "We should have notified St. Joe's in 1995."
Both St. Joe's and the Maryland Province acknowledge that St. Joe's had no knowledge of Fr. Bradley's sexual misconduct during his tenure at the University. There is no evidence that Fr. Bradley engaged in any sexual misconduct during his ten years at St. Joe's.
While at St. Joe's, Fr. Bradley served as a campus minister and acted as a mentor to students, faculty, and staff participating in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises are a semester-long period of prayer and reflection that are designed to help participants come to a deeper understanding of themselves and their religious beliefs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Ed Dart
posted 1/31/07 @ 8:56 AM EST
Wow! I am completely taken aback by Fr. Bradley's circumstances. Fr. Bradley is the 2nd priest that I've known personally to have been named in this scandal. (Continued…)
Phil Lebet
posted 2/06/07 @ 1:53 AM EST
They sent the e-Mail to those of us who were on Gonzaga's e-Mail list the other day. The incident with the minor occurred the year that I graduated from Gonzaga; although I was not aware of it at the time (it may have ocurred in the fall of 1973; after I had left). (Continued…)
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