Pennsylvania Episcopal bishop found guilty in cover-up of brother’s assaults

Posted by Kendall Harmon

An Episcopal bishop was found guilty by a church panel of covering up his brother's assaults of a teenage girl in the 1970s.

Charles E. Bennison Jr., 64, was convicted of two counts of engaging in conduct unbecoming of a member of the clergy, according to his attorneys and the church verdict, dated Tuesday and released Thursday. He could be reprimanded, suspended or ousted from the church.

"We are proud of the Episcopal Church for holding Bishop Bennison accountable, and for using an open and transparent process that allowed the truth to come to light," church attorney Lawrence White said in a statement Thursday.

It was not immediately clear when the sentence would be handed down for Bennison, bishop of the nation's fifth-largest Episcopal diocese. The special Court for the Trial of a Bishop must wait at least 30 days before handing down a sentence, and Bennison's attorneys said they will request a hearing before sentencing.

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Bishops • TEC Conflicts • TEC Conflicts: Pennsylvania

9 Comments
Posted June 26, 2008 at 5:33 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Phil wrote:

The whole situation is a tragedy.  I hope we’ll all pray for everybody involved.

June 26, 5:46 pm | [comment link]
2. Chris Hathaway wrote:

Bring out the wet noodles.

June 26, 6:10 pm | [comment link]
3. Dilbertnomore wrote:

Toast. And rightly so.

The only question is the browning level of the toast. As we are within the context of TEO, I’m betting on quite lightly toasted. Just enough, but no too much. How proper.

Sherry?

June 26, 6:22 pm | [comment link]
4. Adam 12 wrote:

Does anyone know how long the appeals process takes and if the DioPa will be in limbo until such time?

June 26, 6:36 pm | [comment link]
5. BCP28 wrote:

I see this with sadness but relief.  DioPA is just up the road…I hope the best for them, and pray for the Bishop and Diocese.

Randall

June 26, 6:50 pm | [comment link]
6. Cennydd wrote:

I wish I could say I’m elated about this, but there is still the matter of punishment.  When that’s announced, I’ll probably have something more positive to say about it.  Personally, I hope they depose him.

And then there’s that other matter…........

June 26, 7:18 pm | [comment link]
7. Br. Michael wrote:

We still need to pray for this man, his family and his victims.

June 26, 7:21 pm | [comment link]
8. wamark wrote:

At last justice!  But it isn’t complete Bishop Swing is deposed and convicted as well.  Knowing people who have suffered under the arrogance of both these men in purple the saga will not be over until Swing also comes to judgment.

June 26, 7:58 pm | [comment link]
9. KevinBabb wrote:

Whether or not it accords with the interests of justice, the spector of the Vatican hangs over the sentencing phase of the proceeding.  I suspect that does not bode well for leniency in Bishop Bennison’s punishment.  Some might view that favorably, others unfavorably, but I think it is undeniably a factor.

June 26, 8:06 pm | [comment link]
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