WHEELING, W.Va. — New Wheeling-Charleston Diocese Bishop Mark Brennan released a statement Thursday in connection with the latest media reports of the spending of former Bishop Michael Bransfield.
Brennan said he is “dismayed by the continued revelations concerning former Bishop Michael Bransfield’s misdeeds, as confirmed by the penalties which the Holy Father has imposed on him, and which continue to be chronicled by the media.”
Brennan said it’s his highest priority to restore trust in the Catholic Church and the Diocese.
“I am currently working to have Bishop Bransfield fulfill Pope Francis’ mandate that he make amends for harm he caused during his tenure in the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese,” Brennan’s statement said. “I hope to communicate soon, both to the Holy Father and to the faithful of the Diocese, a plan for Bishop Bransfield’s amends.”
Brennan said Bransfield must “accept his moral responsibility and make a fair restitution to the people of the Diocese, for whom he was responsible as their bishop.”
The latest Washington Post report detailed the establishment of the Bishop’s Fund by Bransfield. It was largely funded by money from Wheeling Hospital and allocated to some church projects in West Virginia but money was also sent to out of state interests and to Bransfield’s friends in the ministry. The Post reported $21 million was moved through the fund.
State Senate Minority Leader Roman Prezioso, a lifelong Catholic, said Bransfield should pay for the damage caused the church.
“There needs to be some retribution as far as the former bishop of this Diocese is concerned,” Prezioso said during an appearance Thursday on MetroNews “Talkline.” “Some of our parishioners are very concerned about giving money to the church because the Diocese takes a percentage to everything given on a weekly basis.”