Michael J. Bransfield
American bishop, former convicted sex offender / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Michael Joseph Bransfield (born September 8, 1943) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Bransfield served as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia from 2005 to 2018.
Michael Joseph Bransfield | |
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Archdiocese | Baltimore |
Diocese | Wheeling-Charleston |
Appointed | December 9, 2004 |
Retired | September 13, 2018 |
Predecessor | Bernard William Schmitt |
Successor | Mark E. Brennan |
Orders | |
Ordination | May 15, 1971 by John Krol |
Consecration | February 22, 2005 by William Henry Keeler |
Personal details | |
Born | (1943-09-08) September 8, 1943 (age 80) |
Previous post(s) | |
Motto | Thy will be done |
Styles of Michael Joseph Bransfield | |
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Reference style | |
Spoken style | Your Excellency |
Religious style | Bishop |
After Bransfield retired in 2018, a church investigation led by Archbishop William E. Lori and five lay experts examined "multiple allegations of sexual harassment of adults and financial improprieties" leveled against him.[1] The report found that the accusations of sexual harassment were credible[2] and detailed Bransfield's diversion of diocesan funds to support a lavish lifestyle.[3]
In July 2019, Pope Francis banned Bransfield from residing in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and ordered him not to “preside or to participate anywhere in any public celebration of the Liturgy,"[4] thus barring him from engaging in public ministry within the Catholic Church.[5] Church leaders—some of whom had previously received gifts from Bransfield—were criticized for failing to respond to initial complaints concerning Bransfield and for later weakening restitution requirements.