BishopAccountability.org
 
  SNAP Northern California: the Disgraceful Bennison Brothers

Virtue Online
November 2, 2007

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7001

We are relieved that Episcopal officials are finally taking action. It was over a year ago that we staged protest after protest at St. John's Episcopal Church in Clayton, California to demand the removal of the admitted child sex offender, John Bennison.

It was truly inconceivable to us how a child rapist could be made the Pastor of a Church, where children are present, with the knowledge of his "big brother", Bishop Charles Bennison, and his other buddy, Bishop Swing.

The Bennison Brothers boldness, and stubborn refusal to be accountable for the outrageous deviate sexual behavior was one of the worst cases I have seen in Northern California. The molestation of a child is a criminal act, and when a child abuser is covered for by a church official, the crime is increased dramatically. A Bishop who shields predators must be suspended and face consequences.

Bishop Bennison knew his brother was a child rapist, yet turned his back not only on the victims, but on all children in the church. His deceit and recklessness is not to be taken lightly, and his choice to protect his molester brother, instead of innocent children, who have since come in contact with John Bennison, was not the right choice.

We, as responsible adults, know that a man who continuously had molested an underage minor, should never had been given a promotion, and access to more children. Yet, the reckless Bishop Bennison did that very thing, and continued the cover-up and silence for years.

Hopefully the final removal of both Bennisons will prevent further crime and disgrace in the Church, and Church hierarchy will learn a valuable lesson from the havoc the Bennisons have wreaked upon the innocent. Children are safer when Criminals are exposed, removed, and punished.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.