WHEELING, W.Va. — Further detailed reports are coming out about the lavish spending by disgraced former Wheeling-Charleston Bishop Michael Bransfield.
On Sunday evening, a piece by Aaron Davis of the Washington Post published online revealing how $4.6 million was spent on Bransfield’s Wheeling residence before it was sold this past summer for only $1.2 million.
Davis appeared on Monday’s MetroNews ‘Talkline’ and said those millions of dollars spent on the Colonial Revival-style mansion was only to get it to Bransfield liking.
According to Davis, church officials also had a reason for the sale of the house right as spending and sexual abuse allegations against Bransfield got out into the public’s view in June.
“They said they wanted to avoid paying any real estate commission or fees on the sale of this property,” he said. “It can add up to 6-percent of the sale. What is curious about that is they said all the proceeds would go towards supporting victims and survivors of sexual abuse, anyways.”
Davis said there had been many questions into the records of spending inside the house after the Vatican report of Bransfield’s actions was published last week in the Washington Post.
“How do you spend that much money on a house? Especially one that is already standing,” Davis asked on MetroNews ‘Talkline.’
The Post reported upgrades inside including steam showers, sunken bars, wine cellars, a $20,000 dining room table, and Persian rugs.
“He wanted this bathroom upstairs, his master bathroom, he wanted a steam shower contraption,” Davis. “So it could have steam set up from a unit in the basement. Sauna environment with jets on 3 sides for him.”
Disgraced bishop spent $4.6 million on mansion, which included a $20,000 dining room table, a master bath with a heated floor and a climate-controlled wine cellar. @byaaroncdavishttps://t.co/IXF6NaPbf2
— Post Investigations (@wpinvestigates) December 30, 2019
Further reports being released with many details continue to frustrate most laypeople. Michael Iafrate, the Co-Coordinator at Catholic Committee of Appalachia, appeared on Monday’s MetroNews ‘Talkline.’
He said that plans of amends laid out by current Bishop Mark Brennan in late November remain “murky” at best.
“Bishop Brennan hasn’t led on how he is actually going to hold Bishop Bransfield accountable for these things,” Iafrate said. “Especially given the fact that Bishop Bransfield appears completely unresponsive or will not even acknowledge that anything has happened.”
Iafrate also said the full report raises more questions about Bransfield’s future.
“Should Bransfield finally be placed on the list of credibly accused clergy that the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston released last year,” he questioned. “Should he continue to maintain his title as a bishop or Bishop Emeritus, that’s a big question mark. Or even as a priest?”
.@iafratenoghost, Co-Coordinator of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia, talks with @HoppyKercheval to discuss the Michael Bransfield report and how the Catholic community has reacted. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIAoe1 pic.twitter.com/NpOx9B7vsr
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) December 30, 2019