Bishop Awaits Outcome of Trial, by George Conger, Religious Intelligence (United Kingdom), June 23, 2008

Bishop Awaits Outcome of Trial

By George Conger
Religious Intelligence (United Kingdom)
June 23, 2008

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=2203

The trial of the Bishop of Pennsylvania for conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy has concluded, with a plea from the defendant's lawyer not to judge the Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison Jr., for the crimes of his brother, the Rev. John Bennison.

Bishop awaits outcome of trial

Bishop Bennison was accused of failing to discipline his brother John, who as a seminarian served as his youth minister in the 1970's at St Mark's Episcopal Church in Upland, California. John Bennison, who resigned from the priesthood in 2006, was accused of having seduced a teenage member of his parish youth group---and that his brother, Charles, had knowledge of the affair, but took no action.

In testimony before the nine-judge court in Philadelphia, the victim—now in her 50's recounted the abuse at the hands of John Bennison. John Bennison's former wife also gave testimony confirming the former priest's sybaritic lifestyle that included serial adultery, an "open marriage", while one document alleged John, while serving as an assistant at a second Los Angeles area parish, procured the abortion of a young women whom he had seduced.

Church Attorney, Charles Jacobs told the court there had been multiple instances when Charles Bennison could have stepped in and stopped his brother's behavior. "He didn't stop it, he didn't get help, he didn't protect others, he didn't protect his flock," Mr. Jacobs said.

However, Bishop Bennison's attorney challenged the legality of the proceedings, saying that while the evidence of misconduct by John Bennison was manifest, the trial was of his brother, Charles.

The indictment of Bishop Bennison accused him of having "reacted passively and self-protectively after he learned of his brother's sexual misconduct with a young girl," and that he "deliberately and systematically" did not disclose his knowledge of the affair so as to "contain the possibility of scandal."

Bishop Bennison testified that he was unaware of the affair at the time, and that when he did have knowledge, remonstrated with his brother. However, he had not taken the matter further as his training had taught him "that you keep all things confidential."

James Parabue, Bishop Bennison's attorney, charged the Episcopal Church with hypocrisy in bringing his client on trial for passive behavior and having sought to minimize the scandal. The bishops of California and Los Angeles as well as the Office of Pastoral Development at the National Church headquarters in New York were well aware of the John Bennison affair, Mr. Parabue said, but raised no question of possible impropriety by Charles Bennison when he was elected Bishop of Pennsylvania.

"This trial is not about John Bennison's conduct. John Bennison's conduct is reprehensible, criminal, and sinful," Mr. Pabarue told the court. "This trial is about Charles Bennison's conduct. Throughout this trial, the church's attorney has attempted to conflate John Bennison's conduct with Charles Bennison's conduct."

Following the conclusion of the case for the prosecution, Mr. Parabue moved for the court to dismiss the charges against his client, citing the protections of the statute of limitations saying no evidence had been produced that showed his client had violated canon law which requires a finding of conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy to have occurred "within, or continued up to, 10 years immediately preceding the time of receipt of a charge."

The court has 30-days to render its verdict. If found guilty, the court may impose a sentence of deposition from the ministry. Bishop Bennison has announced that if he is cleared of the charges, he will remain in office for seven more years, until he reaches the retirement age of 72. The timing of the court decision, which is subject to appeal, will come day before the opening of the Lambeth Conference, which Bishop Bennison plans on attending.