Catholic diocese and former bishop in W.Va. knowingly employed pedophiles, according to lawsuit filed by state attorney general
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Wednesday sued the Catholic diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and its former bishop, Michael J. Bransfield, charging that they “knowingly employed pedophiles and failed to conduct adequate background checks” for people working in Catholic schools and camps, a Morrisey press release says.
The lawsuit, the latest dramatic civil action against the American church in the past year, alleges violations of the state’s consumer protection laws. It accuses the diocese of advertising safe environments for children while at the same time, the complaint says, choosing “to cover up and conceal arguably criminal behavior of child sexual abuse.”
The lawsuit is seeking a permanent court order “blocking the diocese from continuation of any such conduct.”
Some experts on child abuse said the move was precedent-setting.
“This is the most that we’ve seen so far in terms of prosecution, in terms of someone in the higher levels of the hierarchy. This is the first time we’ve seen a comprehensive claim against a whole diocese and a bishop," said Marci Hamilton, a law scholar and head of CHILD USA, a non-profit focused on child abuse.
Calls to the Wheeling-Charleston diocese and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were not immediately returned Wednesday.
While Catholic officials and leaders have ceded that the Church failed in the past, some see the recent criticism as unfair for an institution that has invested many millions in child protection efforts. One church official Wednesday who declined to be named so as to not appear to be defending past behavior, called the new suit a “publicity stunt,” noting that the abuse alleged was decades ago and that policies have changed significantly.
Civil authorities in the past year have initiated several actions against the Catholic Church on sex abuse that are new in the United States, where the Church is the lar...
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
Showing 1 comment
I am now providing info that i have gained from my long-time clinical experience as well as the research I continue to conduct, w/ my primary focus on this diocese. The article is pending publication in a local paper that has interviewed me. I’ve also provided observations to a reporter from the Boston Globe, Spotlight group.
This article will upset those parishioners who still are faithful and believe in the Church. I divorced the Church 3 years ago. I will continue my local advocacy on behalf of all victim/survivors.
Rich, MSW