ST. LOUIS (MO)
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
March 11, 2019
The investigation against the former bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has concluded, diocesan officials have confirmed. Now, as the results of the diocesan investigation are sent to the Holy See for review, SNAP is urging another investigation into the claims, this time by West Virginia law enforcement officials.
As a result of the investigation into Bishop Michael Bransfield, the current diocesan administrator of Wheeling-Charleston, Archbishop William Lori, has announced that Bransfield “is not authorized to exercise any priestly or episcopal ministry within the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.”
For the protection of children and the prevention of future abuse, we’re glad that these few details have been made public and that some steps have been taken and are sure that those review board members who helped the Diocese investigate the allegations against Bransfield did so to the best of their ability and knowledge. But as we have consistently been shown in the past six months, we cannot count on church officials to be forthcoming about clergy sex crimes.
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