WHEELING, W.Va. — Former Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Bishop Michael Bransfield died Thursday.
The Diocese released a statement:
The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has received word that our former Bishop, Michael Bransfield, passed away peacefully today. As it is the tradition in our Church to pray for the dead as well as for the living, we pray for the repose of his soul, asking God’s mercy upon him. His funeral and burial will not take place in West Virginia, but we invite all the faithful to pray at this time for his family, friends, and caregivers.
Bransfield served as bishop of the Wheeling-Catholic diocese from 2005 to 2018, when he retired. A church investigation examined multiple credible allegations of sexual harassment of adults, as well as financial improprieties.
The investigation findings continue to receive attention from The Washington Post and other news organizations.
The bishop who replaced him, Bishop Mark Brennan, announced a “plan of amends” for Bransfield in November 2019.
Those included apologies to adults he was found to have sexually harassed, as well as apologies to members of the Catholic church in West Virginia and to members of the Chancery staff “who were subjected to a culture of intimidation and fear of retribution.”
The plan also outlined financial restitution that would include being bumped down to a lower pension benefit of $736 a month, accepting reduced health care benefits, giving up a car he was provided at retirement and reimbursing hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal benefits that were not declared for taxes.
Bransfield issued a four-paragraph letter in August 2020 apologizing to the church and its members.
“I’m sorry if I offended anyone,” he said. “I am writing to apologize for any scandal or wonderment caused by words or actions attributed to me during my tenure as Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese.”