Catholic groups demand an apology from Brennan and the removal of her facilitators | News, Sports, Jobs

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WHEELING – A letter to Bishop Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, from two groups representing lay Catholics calls for further action in the wake of the despicable resignation of disgraced former bishop Michael Bransfield.

The letter, which was sent Sept. 3 to Brennan, is from Morgantown-based Lay Catholic Voices for Change and ACT: A Church Together, which lists an address from Wheeling, which represents lay and non-lay members of the clergy of the ‘Roman Catholic Church. Church.

“We are speaking on behalf of countless members of the Catholic Church in West Virginia when we say, ‘Our faith has not been destroyed, but our confidence in our church leaders has been devastated,’ the letter reads.

The letter describes several requests from Brennan and the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

First, an apology from Brennan, on behalf of the diocese, is requested.

The letter states that although Brennan did not oversee Bransfield’s actions – which allegedly included a pattern of sexual harassment and abuse of men under his authority and the extremely extravagant spending of church funds on him. personal use of Brandfield and his friends – Brennan is now responsible for the actions and the response of the diocese to his actions.

The letter cites the embarrassment on the part of young Catholics to embrace their faith, due to Bransfield’s actions, the damage to the religious community due to his actions and the decline of Wheeling University – formerly Wheeling Jesuit University – with Chantal’s Mount Academy, and Bishop Donahue High School, all of which suffered under Bransfield’s administration.

He also calls the revs. Frederick Annie, Kevin Quirk and Anthony Cincinnati will be removed from their posts across the diocese.

The three clerics were identified in an internal report as Bransfield’s henchmen, recruiting young priests and seminarians to serve and suffer under Bransfield, dismissing reports and concerns about his abuse and doing nothing while observing the behavior of man.

The letter also calls for an investigation into a potential model of child sexual abuse that Bransfield may have undertaken. According to the internal investigation, Bransfield was reportedly described as having acted in a predatory manner towards the choir staff at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Quirk reportedly told investigators that he had actively tried to make sure Bransfield was not left alone with the boys; despite this, the report says no evidence existed to support the claims, although there were “significant reasons to fear that this would happen.”

Additionally, the group is working to ensure that Brennan and the Diocese no longer refer to Bransfield as “Bishop” or “Bishop Emeritus” in his retreat.

Finally, the letter calls for a plan allowing for the installation of independently chosen lay representatives in all diocesan councils and committees, such as the finance council and the council of consultors, and the creation of a diocesan pastoral council composed of lay members from all over the diocese.

“We pray that you will be prompted to act in these simple but powerful ways to rebuild the trust of the faithful. The need is urgent and the time has come, ”the letter concludes.

Diocese spokesman Tim Bishop declined to comment on the matter on Friday.

Bransfield was sanctioned by the church last month and asked to make amends. Bransfield sent a four paragraph letter to the congregation, in which he denied the intention to make anyone feel harassed and denied that his spending was appropriate. Bransfield also reimbursed $ 441,000 to cover his personal expenses paid by the diocese, which included jewelry, alcohol, first class flights, personal gifts and renovations at three of his properties.

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