Paul J. Bradley

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For other people with similar names, see Paul Bradley.
His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Paul J. Bradley
Bishop of Kalamazoo
ArchdioceseDetroit
DioceseKalamazoo
AppointedApril 6, 2009
InstalledJune 5, 2009
PredecessorJames Albert Murray
Orders
OrdinationMay 1, 1971
by Vincent Leonard
ConsecrationFebruary 2, 2005
by Donald Wuerl, Daniel DiNardo, and David Zubik
Personal details
Birth namePaul Joseph Bradley
Born (1945-10-18) October 18, 1945 (age 76)
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh (2005-2009) Titular Bishop of Afufenia (2005-2009)
MottoWAITING IN JOYFUL HOPE
Styles of
Paul Joseph Bradley
Coat of arms of Paul Joseph Bradley.svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Paul Joseph Bradley (born October 18, 1945) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fourth and current Bishop of Kalamazoo in Michigan.

Early life and ministry[]

Paul Bradley was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to John and Cecilia (née Pater) Bradley.[1] One of nine children, he has one brother and eight sisters; two sisters, Roberta (d. 2006) and Mariella, became nuns.[2] Bradley attended St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana for his high school, college and theology studies.[1][3]

On May 1, 1971, Bradley was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Vincent Leonard .[4] He then served as a parochial vicar at St. Sebastian Church in North Hills, at St. Paul Church in Butler, and at St. Kieran Church in Lawrenceville, all in Pennsylvania.[1] At the same time, Bradley earned a Master's in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh.[3]

In 1973, Bradley became the youth director for the Northwest Deanery, working there until 1975. In 1977. he became family life director for the Butler Deanery, working there until 1982.

In 1983, Bradley became the director of the Office for Family Life in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In 1988, he became diocesan Secretary for Human Services, during which time he also served as co-pastor with Daniel DiNardo of Madonna del Castello Church in Swissvale.[5]

In 1994, Bradley became pastor of St. Sebastian Church. He also served as dean of the Northwest Deanery from 1998 to 2001.[1] In January 2001, Bradley was named rector of St. Paul Cathedral and pastor of the cathedral parish . On November 7, 2003, he was made general secretary and vicar general of Pittsburgh diocese.[1]

Episcopal career[]

Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh[]

On December 16, 2004, Bradley was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh and Titular Bishop of Afufenia by Pope John Paul II.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on February 2, 2005 from then-Bishop Donald Wuerl, with then-Bishop DiNardo and Bishop David Zubik serving as co-consecrators, at St. Paul Cathedral.[4] His selected as his episcopal motto: "Waiting in Joyful Hope."

in June 2006, Bradley was elected Apostolic Administrator of the diocese, serving until the installation of Bishop Zubik in September 2007.[1]

Bishop of Kalamazoo[]

On April 6, 2009, Bradley was named the fourth Bishop of Kalamazoo, Michigan, .[4] Succeeding the retiring James A. Murray, he was installed at St. Augustine Cathedral on June 5, 2009. As Bishop, he serves over 107,000 Catholics in Southwestern Michigan.[6]

On March 22, 2014, Bradley released the following statement in response to a federal court ruling that the Michigan ban on same sex marriage was unconstitutional:

With the stroke of a pen, the meaning of marriage, one of society's most sacred institutions and the very foundation of the family, has been redefined in our state.[7]

On September 4, 2018, Bradley proposed a ten-step plan for overhauling church policies on the reporting of sexual abuse allegations.[8] In January 2019, Bradley started a controversy when he assigned Archbishop John Neinstedt, formerly of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, to assist for several months at a parish in Battle Creek, Michigan. Many parishioners did not want Neinstadt, due to the Minnesota archdiocese's failure to report sexual abuse claims. After two weeks, Neinstadt left Battle Creek. On January 19, Bradley made this statement:

Archbishop Nienstedt's presence has unintentionally brought about a sense of disunity, fear, and hurt to many of you during this brief period of time....As your spiritual father and shepherd, I regret that more than words can express.[9]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Most Rev. Paul J. Bradley, V.G., D.D., General Secretary". Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Archived from the original on April 9, 2009.
  2. ^ "Roberta A. Bradley CDP". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. January 1, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Pittsburgh Catholics bid farewell to Bishop Bradley". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Bishop Paul Joseph Bradley". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 21, 2015.[self-published source]
  5. ^ Craig, Smith (October 18, 2007). "'Father Dan' appointed cardinal". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007.
  6. ^ "OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS". Holy See. April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008.
  7. ^ "Michigan gay marriage ruling called 'unfortunate and regrettable' by Kalamazoo Bishop Paul J. Bradley". mlive. March 22, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Newschannel 3, Jorge Rodas | (September 14, 2018). "Local Bishop calls on Catholic Church to look into reporting policies for sexual abuse". WWMT. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  9. ^ "Apologetic bishop underestimated reaction to Nienstedt's presence". mlive. January 21, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2021.

External links[]

Episcopal succession[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Kalamazoo
2009–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh
2005–2009 		Succeeded by
–
Retrieved from ""