Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston

On November 29, 2018, the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston released the names of 18 clergy who had been "credibly accused" of sexually abusing minors while serving in the Diocese.[4][5] The list also revealed the names of 13 priests who were transferred to the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston after being accused of committing sex abuse in other Catholic Dioceses.[4][6] One of the accused clergy on the list, Rev. Felix Owino, taught at the Diocese's Wheeling Jesuit University and was deported to Africa after being convicted in 2010 in the neighboring state of Virginia for sexually abusing a girl.[7][5] Reported incidents of sex abuse on this list also go as far back as 1950.[5] 11 of the clergy on the list who were accused of sex abuse while serving in the Diocese are deceased.[5]

On July 19, 2019, Pope Francis removed Bransfield from public ministry in the Catholic church and also barred him from residing in the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston.[8][9][10] It was also agreed that a new Bishop would be installed, Bransfield must also consult a settlement on how to make amends for his actions.[8] On July 23, 2019, Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mark Brennan was appointed Bishop and was installed on August 22, 2019. On 22 August 2019, Brennan was officially installed as Bishop,[11][12] On August 21, 2019, the first sex abuse case against Bransfield was settled.[13] On November 26, 2019, Bransfield was ordered by Brennan to pay more settlements, and also forfeit financial and personal benefits he obtained from the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston.[14]

In March 2019, the same month that the first sex abuse lawsuit was filed against Bransfield,[13] West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of the State of West Virginia against the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston and Bransfield, alleging violations of West Virginia consumer protection laws.[15] The complaint filed by the state specifically alleges that the diocese advertised itself as a safe place for children while "knowingly employed pedophiles and failed to conduct adequate background checks" on workers in Catholic schools and camps.[15] The lawsuit was groundbreaking because it named a diocese as a defendant, rather than individual priests, and because it sought to make use of consumer-protection law to obtain discovery of church records.[15]

On August 21, 2019, the first sex abuse lawsuit against Bransfield was settled.[13]

On 30 September 2019, it was revealed that a second sex abuse lawsuit had been filed against Bransfield.[16] It was also revealed that both sex abuse lawsuits against Bransfield included the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston.[16]

In June 2019, after details of the report became public, West Virginia Attorney General Morrisey called for the report to be publicly released, and the SNAP, the Survivors Network called for a law enforcement investigation.[17]

In October 2019, the Washington Post reported that police were investigating an allegation that Bransfield molested a 9-year-old girl during a September 2012 pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., while on a trip led by Bransfield.[18] The Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston was subpoenaed for documents in connection with the investigation.[18] Bransfield denied the allegation.[18]

On November 26, 2019, Bishop Brennan ordered Bransfield to pay restitution to the diocese in the amount of $792,638 (and $110,000 to the IRS) and to issue an apology "for the severe emotional and spiritual harm his actions caused" to his victims and to the diocese.[14] Brennan also revoked certain retirement benefits of Bransfield and barred him from being buried in the diocesan cemetery.[14] The directive is believed to be a rare or unprecedented example of a bishop being ordered to pay restitution.[14] The survivors' group SNAP criticized the measures as insufficient because they suggested "that Bransfield alone should make reparations"; the group called for consequences for Church officials who concealed, or failed to address, Bransfield's conduct.[14] However, the Vatican later agreed to lower Bransfield's required restitution.[19][20]

On August 20, 2020, a written apology which was written by Bransfield after he paid $441,000 to the Diocese was made public.[21] In his letter, which was dated August 15, 2020, Bransfield wrote “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.”[22]

1. Richard Vincent Whelan (1850–1874)
2. John Joseph Kain (1875–1893), appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of St. Louis and later succeeded to that see
3. Patrick James Donahue (1894–1922)
4. John Joseph Swint (1922–1962), appointed Archbishop ad personam in 1954
   - Thomas John McDonnell (coadjutor bishop 1951–1961); died before succession
5. Joseph Howard Hodges (1962–1974); title changed with title of diocese

1. Joseph Howard Hodges (1974–1985)
2. Francis B. Schulte (1985–1988), appointed Archbishop of New Orleans
3. Bernard William Schmitt (1989–2004)
4. Michael Joseph Bransfield (2004–2018)
5. Mark E. Brennan (2019–present)

• John Joseph Swint (1922), appointed Bishop of Wheeling
• James Edward Michaels, S.S.C.M.E. (1973–1974); title changed with title of diocese

• James Edward Michaels, S.S.C.M.E. (1974–1987)
• Bernard William Schmitt (1988–1989), appointed bishop of this diocese

• Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, Wheeling
• St. Francis, Morgantown
• St. Patrick, Weston
• De Sales Heights Academy, Parkersburg
• St. Margaret Mary (Elementary), Parkersburg
• St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary, Parkersburg
• Bishop Donahue Memorial High School, McMechen. Bishop Donahue was closed and now houses the Police Department, City Clerks Office, and is occasionally used for community functions.