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In Public

Bishop’s case needs to be dealt with properly

Most cases of sexual harassment are handled quietly and privately. If they occur in a workplace, the perpetrators are disciplined, sometimes fired. Only rarely, when someone files a lawsuit, are harassment situations made public.

But the case we reported on page one needs to be dealt with in as public a manner as possible. It involves former Roman Catholic Bishop Michael J. Bransfield.

For 13 years, Bransfield has presided over the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. His work was appreciated enough that Wheeling Hospital named its new continuous care center for him. Wheeling Central Catholic High School put his name on its gymnasium.

Church rules require diocesan bishops to submit their resignations when they reach 75 years of age. Bransfield reached that milestone on Sept. 8.

Pope Francis accepted his resignation immediately. Then, church officials revealed he is being investigated on allegations he sexually harassed adults.

That is not as disturbing as the sexual assault accusations involving children that are being made against hundreds of Catholic priests, of course. Still, it is a serious offense.

Sexual harassment can come in many forms, ranging from telling off-color jokes to propositioning other people for sex. Exactly what Bransfield has been accused of is not known.

The context of his situation makes it clear church officials need to be more forthcoming. Hundreds of Catholic priests in several states have been accused of assaulting children. Some in the church hierarchy allegedly covered up for the priests.

In 2012, Bransfield himself was accused of sexually abusing a minor and of being aware another priest was doing so at a house owned by Bransfield. He denied the allegations strongly. The diocese released a statement that it had identified the alleged victim of Bransfield, who had denied any abuse occurred.

At the time, Bransfield referred to the accusations as “unbelievable and shocking.” He added, “I have openly been an advocate for the eradication of the abusive behavior of priests …”

Decisions on Bransfield’s resignation and investigation reportedly originated in the Vatican — which has been coping for some time with reports of sexual abuse by priests throughout the world.

Those allegations — many of them proven — have damaged the church badly. Only full disclosure of what church officials know about the cases, along with how some were covered up for decades, can begin to repair the harm done in many ways.

That disclosure should include details of the investigation against Bransfield.

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