Letter to the Faithful

WHEELING (WV)
Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

August 15 2020; released August 20, 2020

By Bishop Emeritus Michael J. Bransfield

I am writing to apologize for any scandal or wonderment caused by words or actions attributed to me during my tenure as Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese.

First, during my tenure I was reimbursed for certain expenditures that have been called into question as excessive, and I have been advised that I should reimburse a certain amount of money to the Diocese. I have now done so even though I believed that such reimbursements to me were proper.

Second, there have been allegations that by certain words and actions I have caused certain priests and seminarians to feel sexually harassed. Although that was never my intent, if anything that I said or did caused others to feel that way, then I am profoundly sorry.

I hope that this letter will help to achieve a kind of reconciliation with the Faithful of the Diocese.

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