THE Bishop of Pennsylvania, the Rt Revd Charles Bennison, has been convicted in an ecclesiastical court of conduct unbecoming of a member of the clergy after a four-day trial (News, 20 June). He will be sentenced on 30 July, and faces deposition.
The charges dated back to 1973, and related to the Bishop’s protection of his brother, John, then a married lay minister at the California church where Bishop Bennison was Rector. The Bishop knew his brother was in a “sexually abusive and sexually exploitative” relationship with a 14-year-old member of the congregation, but turned a blind eye (News, 20 June).
Bishop Bennison allowed his brother to remain in the church’s employ, and to work unsupervised with youth groups, while he graduated, was ordained in 1975, and went as a curate to Santa Barbara, where he continued to have a relationship with the girl. Bishop Bennison “did nothing to hasten the end of the affair”, the presentment said.
When challenged by her angry parents over non-disclosure, Bishop Bennison is reported to have responded: “I have to be not a pastor, but John’s brother in this situation.” The second charge at the trial accused him of suppressing the information about his brother until 2006, when John Bennison was forced to resign his orders.
After the sentence, Bishop Bennison will have 30 days to appeal, and then a further 30 days to appeal against the final judgment. His activities have been queried for many years: he refused to resign his see in March 2006, despite the recommendations of a report on his leadership style and behaviour. His diocese was described by the president of its standing committee as “a rudderless ship” as far back as 2000.
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