A Catholic priest from Grayson County who served as the unofficial chaplain for basketball teams at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville has been accused of sexually abusing a minor in the 1980s.
Father Joseph Edward Bradley, 75, has been suspended by the Diocese of Owensboro until the investigation into the allegation is complete. He is accused of sexually abusing a minor while he was principal at Owensboro Catholic High School (1980-1985).
After reviewing the allegation, the Daviess County Commonwealth Attorney forwarded the report to the Owensboro Police Department for investigation. The diocese was made aware of the allegation on Tuesday.
Bradley served as priest at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Henderson beginning in 1995 until 2011. He was named Henderson’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Henderson Chamber of Commerce in 2007.
Bradley was the unofficial chaplain of the UK basketball team beginning in 1992 after meeting then-UK coach Rick Pitino. He also served as the team chaplain at UofL during Pitino’s tenure at the school from 2001 until 2017.
Bradley served as executive director of an Owensboro shelter for women and children that was named for Pitino’s son Daniel, who died in 1987 at six-months-old from a congenital heart ailment. Bradley also performed marriage ceremonies for several former UK basketball players and officiated at the funeral of long-time UK basketball and football play-by-play broadcaster, Cawood Ledford.
Bradley was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Owensboro in 1975. He retired from public ministry in 2011.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
