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	Standing Committee: Bishop Should Be Deposed By John P. Connolly The Bulletin August 7, 2008 http://www.thebulletin.us/site/index.cfm?newsid=19897766&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=8 The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania has issued its opinion that the bishop should be deposed for covering up the sexual abuse of his brother. Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr., 64, was found guilty of two counts of engaging in conduct unbecoming of a member of the clergy on June 26. The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania presented a resolution in which the majority of member favored deposition of Bishop Bennison, and all favored a sentence that would preclude the bishop from ever serving as a clergyman again. The sentencing document, dated July 30, said that Bishop Bennison's persistent denial of wrongdoing was pivotal in reaching the decision to remove him from service in the clergy. "Bishop Bennison's inability to accept the fundamental wrongfulness of his own misconduct is a critical factor - the most critical factor, the determining factor - to consider in fashioning an appropriate sentence," the document reads. Bishop Bennison was found guilty on two counts of action unbecoming a member of the clergy: first for failing to respond properly after learning that his brother, John Bennison, a newly-ordained deacon whom he had hired as youth minister, was "engaged in a sexually abusive and sexually exploitive relationship" with a 14-year-old parishioner in 1973. The second count was for suppressing the information about his brother until 2006. Bishop Bennison described the relationship to the ecclesiastical court as "yet another affair" in his parish. "Any clergy member who, in his testimony before this Court, could characterize the statutory rape of a youth by the youth group leader as 'yet another affair' and use that fact as grounds for keeping it a secret is unfit to continue as a member of the clergy," reads the Standing Committee's statement. "We are very disappointed that the court found that Bishop Bennison had engaged in conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy," said James Parabue, the bishop's lawyer, when the verdict was reached. "The appropriateness of his actions is reflected by the actions of numerous Episcopal bishops, priests, officials and lay members who knew of Bishop Bennison's conduct as early as 1979 and who for 28 years never felt that his conduct was improper and warranted charges being brought against him during that time." The Presiding Bishop, however, disagrees. "In light of the nature and seriousness of the charges involving Bishop Bennison and the Court's finding of his responsibility, Bishop Bennison should not be permitted to resume his episcopate in the Diocese of Pennsylvania under any circumstances," read a statement included in the sentencing document by Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. "The Court's finding, as well as the evidence regarding his credibility and lack of appropriate pastoral sensitivity presented at the trial, demonstrate that he could not effectively lead the Diocese again. Nor, under these circumstances, could he play an effective role as a bishop in another diocese, either now or in the future." The Court will likely make a sentencing ruling after Aug. 15, when statements on the sentence from both sides are due. The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania's Web site says that Bishop Bennison may appeal within 30 days to the Court of Review of the Trial of a Bishop. That court consists of nine Bishops elected by the House of Bishops. The Presiding Judge of the Court of Review upon receiving the Notice of Appeal shall appoint a time within 60 days thereafter for the Hearing on the Appeal. No new evidence would be permitted in the hearing. John P. Connolly can be reached at jconnolly@thebulletin.us
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