W.va. Attorney General Calls for More Victims to Come Forward after Lawsuit against Diocese
By Megan Osborne
The West Virginia attorney general is calling for more victims to step forward after a lawsuit was filed against the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and a former bishop Tuesday for knowingly employing pedophiles and failing to conduct background checks. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said the situation is still under investigation. "We identified a number of individuals and different types of activities that were occurring which we thought were violating the law, but we remain very open to collect more information, to talk to more victims, to learn more, because we can amend our complaint," Morrisey said. The suit alleges the diocese and Bishop Michael Bransfield chose to cover up arguably criminal behavior and claims the diocese employed admitted sexual abusers and priests credibly accused of child sexual abuse without adequate background checks. It comes about a week after church officials barred Bransfield from priestly duties following an investigation into claims that he sexually harassed adults and committed financial improprieties, The Associated Press reported. The suit was brought under the state's Consumer Credit and Protection Act, which several attorneys said is a first-of-its kind move. Morrisey said he hopes the suit will result in the diocese cooperating to change the systematic issues. "Victims need to get the help they need - that's what this is all about," Morrisey said. "I'm still hopeful that the church is going to step forward and they want to cooperate on this so we can put the fixes in place so that nothing like this ever happens again." Already in response to the lawsuit, a group called the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) demonstrated Thursday in front of the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, West Virginia, praised the attorney general's action and disclosed three "publicly accused predator priests" who they say spent time in West Virginia but are not on the diocese's "accused list." SNAP alleges the priests have "largely escaped public attention in the state." Those named by SNAP are the Rev. Robert Cullen, the Rev. Francis C. Bourbon and the Rev. Jack Hoel. Cullen, who has died, was at Wheeling Central Catholic High School from 1982-83 and Wheeling Jesuit College from 1983-90. Bourbon, who died in 2007, was at St. Paul's Church in Weirton from 1993-94, Nativity of Our Lord Church in Wayne from 1994-96 and Wheeling Jesuit College from 1996-2003. Hoel was a Pittsburgh priest who was defrocked for abusing children, but moved to West Virginia to become a psychological counselor in Weirton. These allegations are all according to SNAP. Morrisey said he understands the issue is difficult, but urges victims to come forward. "It's better always to come forward and to try to right the wrong, because not letting it out might potentially let guilty people continue to operate within their community," Morrisey said. Those who feel they have information pertinent to the lawsuit can contact the Attorney General's Office's Consumer Protection and Anti-Trust Division at 304-558-8986 or 800-368-8808. Follow reporter Megan Osborne on Twitter and Facebook @megosborneHD.
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