Is there a little more biographical information on Father? Sounds like he lived a very interesting life. If he's 97, he would have been born somewhere around 1925. Jesuits tend to be ordained later because of the "scholastic" path they go through, so perhaps around 1955.
I was hoping to find a more complete biographical record (from official sources, which eliminates a lot of internet factoids, but it was after 9 PM when I got home from the mortuary last night). I'm posting information that I know to be accurate, but it comes from bishops-accountability.org, and I'll not link to them directly (they love the sensation, they aren't always good about checking their facts).
Theodore Bradley was ordained to the priesthood Aug. 15, 1958.
He served as an assistant pastor in five parishes of the diocese (Spokane): St. Patrick, Walla Walla (August 1958-August 1960), St. Augustine, Spokane (August 1960-August 1961), the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, Spokane (August 1961-August 1963), St. Francis Xavier, Spokane (August 1963-August 1966), and St. John Vianney, Spokane (August 1966-August 1969).
As a pastor, he served the parishes in Brewster and Twisp (August 1969-July 1972). He was named pastor of St. Joseph in Spokane in 1972.
In 1977 he became pastor of the parishes in Ritzville, Lind, and Washtucna. In 1983 the Sprague parish was added to that list.
For many years he volunteered as archivist for the diocese.
He retired in 1995.
I am not aware that Fr. Bradley was ever associated with the Jesuits. I had also thought that he had incardinated into the Spokane Diocese from the Yakima Diocese but I don't have a reference for that. Either is possible as the first Bishop of Yakima (from its erection in 1951 through 1969) Joseph Dougherty had some dispute with the Jesuits and I believe (though again without a reference at hand) that he may have banished them from the diocese for a time. The Jesuits currently administer St. Joseph's Parish in downtown Yakima.
While serving as pastor in Ritzville, Lind, Washtucna, and Sprague there was information that he was having an affair with a much younger woman. I don't recall that he ever denied the accusations, only that he said she seduced him, but I don't have time to find good sources. I assume she was of the legal age of consent as I don't believe there was a criminal investigation, but she was apparently very young. He then retired from active ministry and maintained a low profile but remained a priest of the diocese. He said a twice monthly 1962 missal Low Mass in the Tri-Cities (with ecclesiastical approbation) and served as the volunteer archivist for the Spokane Diocese. I enjoyed reading his regular historical columns in the diocesan newspaper.
In 2002, following the adoption of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, he was among six removed from active ministry (laicized) in the diocese. He was listed in the Latin Mass directory produced by Traditio.
An interesting irony is that Mary Queen of Heaven in Sprague (a part of his last pastorate) has a 1962 missal High Mass every Sunday and Holy Day and a Low Mass most week days, and I'm pretty sure that its the Latin Mass that keeps the church doors open financially.
Topic: RIP Father Ted Bradley (Read 2452 times)