William Medley

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

William Francis Medley
Bishop of Owensboro
ArchdioceseLouisville
DioceseOwensboro
AppointedDecember 15, 2009
InstalledFebruary 10, 2010
PredecessorJohn Jeremiah McRaith
Orders
OrdinationMay 22, 1982
by Thomas C. Kelly
ConsecrationFebruary 10, 2010
by Joseph Edward Kurtz, Thomas C. Kelly, and John Jeremiah McRaith
Personal details
Born (1952-09-17) September 17, 1952 (age 69)
Loretto, Kentucky
MottoHOLY IS GOD'S NAME
Styles of
William Francis Medley
Coat of arms of William Francis Medley.svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

William Francis Medley (born September 17, 1952) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

A former priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville, Medley is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky.

Biography[]

Early life and education[]

William Medley was born in Loretto, Kentucky, to James Werner and Dorothy (née Hayden) Medley.[1] Following his graduation from St. Thomas Seminary High School, he studied at Bellarmine College in Louisville, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and psychology.[1]

Medley earned a Master of Divinity degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana.[2] From 1974 to 1978, he served as a social worker for the Kentucky Department of Human Resources.[1]

Ordination and ministry[]

On May 22, 1982, Medley was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, O.P.[3] He then served as associate pastor at St. Pius X Church and chaplain at Assumption High School in Louisville. In 1985, Medley became associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Assumption. in Louisville.[2]

In 1988, Medley was named administrator of St. Benedict Church, St. Charles Borromeo Church and Holy Cross Church, all three of which were merged to form St. Martin de Porres Church in 1990.[1] He became director of the Office of Clergy Personnel in 1989, and served as rector of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral (the original seat of the Archdiocese of Louisville) from 1993 to 2005.[2]

During Medley's tenure as rector, St. Joseph was elevated to the rank of a basilica and had its sanctuary renovated.[4]

Medley was named pastor of Mother of Good Counsel Church in Louisville in 2005, and of Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish in Goshen, Kentucky, in 2007.[1] In 2008, these two parishes were merged to form St. Bernadette Church in Prospect, Kentucky, with Medley remaining as pastor.[1] In addition to his pastoral duties, Medley also served as a member of the College of Consultors, Priests' Council, Planning Commission, Priests' Health Panel, and Priests' Personnel Board. He also served as president of the Bardstown/Nelson County Ministerial Association and on the Nelson County Human Rights Commission.[1]

Bishop of Owensboro[]

On December 15, 2009, Medley was appointed the fourth Bishop of Owensboro by Pope Benedict XVI.[3] His episcopal consecration took place on February 10, 2010, at the Owensboro Sports Center.[4] He selected as his episcopal motto: "Holy Is God's Name."[4]

In March 2019, Spaulding suspended Edward Bradley, a retired priest in the diocese serving as a catholic high school chaplain, over allegations he abused two minors during the 1980's. On April 21, 2012 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith re-instated Bradley, but with prohibitions on entering a school for the next five years.[5]

On October 9, 2018, Medley released a list of 27 priests from the diocese with 66 sexual abuse claims since 1937.[6]

In June 2019, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) filed a formal complaint against Medley. SNAP claimed that while personnel director for the Diocese of Louisville, Medley facilitated the transfer of a priest credibly accused of sexual misconduct to a parish where children were expected to be fewer in number.[7] In response, the diocese of Owensboro released this statement:

“Bishop William F. Medley has previously met with Mr. Montgomery and is aware of the concerns raised regarding his position as clergy personnel director from 1989-1993 in the Archdiocese of Louisville. At this time Bishop Medley has not received any directives from the Papal Nuncio in regards to this matter. At last week’s meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the bishops adopted new protocols for reporting concerns such as these. Bishop Medley awaits further direction.”​​​[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Medley Appointed 4th Bishop For Owensboro Diocese". West Kentucky Star. December 15, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Louisville Pastor Named Bishop of Owensboro, Kentucky; Succeeds Bishop McRaith". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. December 15, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Bishop William F. Medley". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  4. ^ a b c Palmo, Rocco (December 15, 2009). "O, Wensboro: For West Kentucky, an Advent Medley". Whispers in the Loggia.
  5. ^ CNA. "Owensboro priest's faculties reinstated by CDF". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "Bishop: 66 sex abuse claims against 27 priests since 1937". News 40 | WNKY Television. October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Pickens, Katie (December 6, 2019). "Medley accused of covering up priests' child abuse". The Owensboro Times. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  8. ^ "Diocese of Owensboro responds to formal complaint filed against Bishop Medley". Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). June 17, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2021.

External links[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Owensboro
2009–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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