PHILADELPHIA (PA)
News and Sentinel
April 19, 2012
By HEATHER ZIEGLER , The Wheeling Intelligencer
PHILADELPHIA – A man testified Wednesday in a clergy abuse trial that a priest raped him in the 1970s at a beach house owned by the Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield and that he was told that Bransfield, who currently serves as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, also sexually abused a boy.
The 48-year-old man also testified that he saw Bransfield with a car full of boys at a farm owned by his accused abuser, the Rev. Stanley Gana. The witness said that Gana told him Bransfield was having sex with the boy who was in the front seat.
Another man has testified that Bransfield had a lewd conversation with him. …
Bransfield is not charged with any crimes in the case and has never been charged with sexually abusing children.
“The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is learning of media reports originating from legal proceedings under way in Philadelphia, and Bishop Michael Bransfield’s name was brought up in court today. Until such time that the facts and issues surrounding this testimony are made fully known to the Diocese, we cannot comment at this time,” diocesan spokesman Bryan Minor said Wednesday. “However, this is certainly an opportunity for us – as a church – to remember all victims of sexual abuse and to pray for them and their families.”
The local diocese called the trial “a circus” and said Philadelphia prosecutors are trying to smear people never charged with a crime.
“They seem to want to bludgeon witnesses, smear individuals not on trial, anything to bolster their persecution of the church,” the diocese said in a separate statement. “The trial appears to be evolving into a circus with no rules and boundaries.”
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