WHEELING (WV)
Charleston Gazette-Mail [Charleston WV]
May 8, 2026
By Rick Steelhammer
Michael J. Bransfield, who served as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston from 2005 until 2018, died Thursday at age 82.
Pope Francis had accepted Bransfield’s resignation following allegations that the West Virginia bishop had diverted large sums of diocesan funds to his personal use.
A report directed by Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, released in 2019, found that Bransfield had used diocesan funds to pay for $4.6 million worth of renovations to his Wheeling home and nearly $2.5
million for private jet flights, limousine services and hotel stays. The report also determined that Bransfield used church funds to pay an average $1,000 a month for liquor for himself and his subordinates, and to distribute $350,000 in gifts to priests, bishops and cardinals across the country and in the Vatican, during his tenure as bishop.
Additionally, the report identified “credible” allegations of sexual harassment involving seminarians and priests under his authority, but Bransfield was never formally accused of sexual misconduct. The Vatican’s Congregation of Bishops later ordered the former bishop to reimburse his former diocese more than $400,000 of the funds he was alleged to have diverted to personal use, and reduced his monthly pension by two-thirds.
In announcing Bransfield’s death on Thursday, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston released a one-paragraph statement:
“As it is the tradition in our Church to pray for the dead as well as for the living, we pray for the repose of his soul, asking God’s mercy upon him. His funeral and burial will not take place in West Virginia, but we invite all the faithful to pray at this time for his family, friends and caregivers.”
Rick Steelhammer is a features reporter. He can be reached at 304-348-5169 or rsteelhammer@hdmediallc.com. Follow @rsteelhammer on X.