WHEELING (WV)
The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
July 11, 2012
By HEATHER ZIEGLER – Associate City Editor , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Following the landmark guilty verdict against a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia charged with endangering children, the leader of the Catholic Church in West Virginia continues to deal with the fallout of accusations.
Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, whose name was brought up by prosecutors in the Philadelphia case, steadfastly denies any wrongdoing. Bransfield has never been charged with any crime.
The Philadelphia case stems from a 2011 grand jury investigation into allegations that two priests and a teacher sexually abused a 10-year-old boy at St. Jerome Parish in Philadelphia, and that another priest assigned to St. Jerome sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy.
The grand jury presentment recommended criminal charges, including for rape and indecent sexual assault, against the three priests – Edward Avery, Charles Engelhardt and James Brennan – and the teacher, Bernard Shero. The grand jury also recommended charging Monsignor William J. Lynn, secretary for clergy for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, under Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.