Bishop Thomas Daly: Church remains steadfast in identifying abusers
A June 11 article in The Spokesman-Review focusing on a Western Historical group included a few quotes from a Theodore Bradley, as well as a photo. To many readers, this inclusion is not noteworthy. For those who know his history – the leadership of the diocese, victims of clerical abuse and those who have followed the local church closely over the decades – a photo of Bradley in a priest’s clerical shirt and quotes referring to him as “Father” was deeply troubling. It has been nearly 20 years since Bradley was permanently removed from ministry. The fault is not on the reporter or newspaper but with Bradley himself.
Bradley has been repeatedly instructed by the Diocese of Spokane to refrain from presenting himself as a priest. Bishop William Skylstad initially removed Bradley from priestly ministry in 1994 after an accusation of sexual misconduct by a teenage girl which was investigated and deemed credible. Using the 2002 newly created provisions of the US Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Bishop Skylstad permanently removed Bradley from ministry that same year. This penalty means that Bradley is not to present himself as a priest, he cannot publicly celebrate the sacraments, nor may he wear priestly garb. The 2002 penalty included the order that Bradley live out the remainder of his life in private prayer and penance. Bradley was again reminded of these severe restrictions in a 2011 letter written by Bishop Blase Cupich. After my installation as Bishop of Spokane, I took the opportunity to remind Bradley of these restrictions as well.
As Bishop of the Diocese of Spokane, I am entrusted with the duty to make sure allegations of impropriety as well as claims of abuse on the part of clergy, church employees and volunteers are thoroughly investigated. Depending on the allegation, this duty includes involving law enforcement and independent investigators. Within the diocese, we pursue such claims through a Victim Assistance Office as well as an independent lay review board. All claims are taken seriously and investigated in a professional manner. In addition to reporting the allegations to the diocese, survivors are encouraged to personally contact law enforcement.
Over the years, our diocesan policies have expanded. They are regularly reviewed and strengthened, always with the goal of keeping people as safe as possible. Our current Safe Environment program involves extensive training required of all church employees, clergy and lay volunteers. This training not only provides directions on how to maintain a safe environment but also how to spot and report signs of grooming behavior. Annual updates are required for employees and volunteers.
The training extends beyond employees and volunteers to include youth and young people. Catholic school students and those who are enrolled in our religious education programs are given age-appropriate lessons in how to protect themselves from unsafe behavior and to seek help from trusted adults.
A new layer of national accountability was added in 2020 whereby a hotline was established to report allegations of misconduct by a bishop. We, too, must be accountable to the people whom we serve. The creation of a national hotline is one tool that may be used to cut through the bureaucracy that can sometimes hinder an investigation.
The Catholic Church here in Eastern Washington, in concert with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, remains firmly committed to addressing claims of abuse and misconduct. We cannot go back.
If you know of a situation of abuse, or have yourself suffered abuse, at the hands of a church employee, volunteer or member of the clergy, I encourage you to make a report to our diocesan Victims Assistance Coordinator, Roberta Smith. She can be reached at a secure phone line (509) 353-0442 or by cellphone at (509) 998-8340. You may also go to the Diocesan website. I also encourage anyone who has been a victim of abuse to report that abuse to local law enforcement and Child Protective Services before reporting the abuse to the diocese.
While stories of clerical abuse still exist, the church remains committed to rooting out this evil and responding swiftly to accusations. I know that many were rightly disturbed to see Bradley falsely presenting himself as an active Catholic priest. I hope this is also an opportunity for us in the local church and in the broader community to recommit ourselves to efforts which protect young people and vulnerable adults from all forms of abuse.