Michael J. Bransfield
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Michael Joseph Bransfield (born September 8, 1943) is an American
prelate A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Minister (Christianity), Christian clergy who is an Ordinary (church officer), ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which me ...
of the
Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
. Bransfield served as
bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia from 2005 to 2018. After Bransfield retired in 2018, a church investigation led by Archbishop William E. Lori and five lay experts examined "multiple allegations of
sexual harassment Sexual harassment is a type of harassment based on the sex or gender of a victim. It can involve offensive sexist or sexual behavior, verbal or physical actions, up to bribery, coercion, and assault. Harassment may be explicit or implicit, wit ...
of adults and financial improprieties" leveled against him. The report found that the accusations of sexual harassment were credible and detailed Bransfield's diversion of diocesan funds to support a lavish lifestyle. In July 2019,
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
banned Bransfield from residing in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and ordered him not to “preside or to participate anywhere in any public celebration of the Liturgy," thus barring him from engaging in public ministry within the Catholic Church. Church leaders—some of whom had previously received gifts from Bransfield—were criticized for failing to respond to initial complaints concerning Bransfield and for later weakening
restitution Restitution and unjust enrichment is the field of law relating to gains-based recovery. In contrast with damages (the law of compensation), restitution is a claim or remedy requiring a defendant to give up benefits wrongfully obtained. Liability ...
requirements.


Biography


Early life

Michael Bransfield was born on September 8, 1943, in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, and attended Catholic schools in Philadelphia. He earned a
Bachelor of Philosophy Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil, BPh, or PhB; or or ) is the title of an academic degree in philosophy that usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects. Unlike many other bachelor's degrees, the ...
degree and a
Master of Divinity For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and ...
degree from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.


Priesthood

Bransfield was
ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration in Christianity, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominationa ...
to the priesthood by Cardinal
John Krol John Joseph Krol (October 26, 1910 – March 3, 1996) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1961 to 1988, having previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland (1953–19 ...
on May 15, 1971. Bransfield received a
Master of Philosophy A Master of Philosophy (MPhil or PhM; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. The name of the degree is most often abbreviated MPhil (or, at times, as PhM in other countries). MPhil are awarded to postgraduate students after completing at leas ...
degree from
Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States – the only one that is not primarily a ...
in Washington, D.C. He was later a teacher and chaplain at
Lansdale Catholic High School Lansdale Catholic High School is a secondary school that is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is located in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, United States. History The School opened in September 1949 under the name of Little Flowe ...
in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and the chairman of its religion department. In 1987,
Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...
named Bransfield as an
honorary prelate A Prelate of Honour of His Holiness is a Catholic prelate to whom the Pope has granted this title of honour. They are addressed as Monsignor (typically abbreviated 'Mgr') and have certain privileges as regards clerical clothing.
. Bransfield was named assistant director and director of
liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...
(1980), director of finance (1982), and director (1986) at the
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic minor basilica and national shrine in Washington D.C. It is the largest Catholic church building in North America and is also the tallest habitable building in Wash ...
in Washington, D.C. When the shrine was named a
basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...
in 1990, Bransfield was appointed its first rector, serving in this position until 2004.


Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston

On December 9, 2004, John Paul II appointed Bransfield as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. He was consecrated on February 22, 2005, by Cardinal William Keeler, with then Cardinal
Theodore McCarrick Theodore Edgar McCarrick (July 7, 1930 – April 3, 2025) was an American Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal who was Archbishop of Newark from 1986 to 2000 and Archbishop of Washington from 2001 to 2006. In 2019, McCarrick was defrocked by Po ...
and Bishop Bernard Schmitt as co-consecrators, at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Wheeling, West Virginia. As a bishop, Bransfield was elected president of The Papal Foundation, a Catholic nonprofit organization that distributes funds to charitable organizations. Within the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 2001 after the merger of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and United States Catholic C ...
(USCCB), he served a term as treasurer, and as a member of the Conference's Communications Committee and the National Collections Committee; he also co-authored a set of diocesan financial guidelines approved by the USCCB in 2002. Bransfield was a member of the boards of trustees of the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He held membership in the
Knights of Columbus The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic Church, Catholic Fraternal and service organizations, fraternal service order founded by Michael J. McGivney, Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. ...
and the
Knights of the Holy Sepulchre The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (, OESSH), also called the Order of the Holy Sepulchre or Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, is a Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the Holy See. The pope is the sovereign ...
.


Accusations of sexual abuse and harassment

In April 2012, the ''
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
'' reported that Bransfield had been accused of sexual abuse of a boy in the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia The Archdiocese of Philadelphia () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia originally included all of Pennsylvania and Dela ...
. Accusations against Bransfield had been raised in testimony by a witness at the trial of two
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
priests, one charged with attempted rape and the other with failing to report sexual abuse. Bransfield was not charged with a crime, and denied ever sexually abusing anyone.


Resignation

When he turned 75 in September 2018, Bransfield submitted his resignation to the pope as required by canon law. His resignation was immediately accepted by
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
, who named Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore as
apostolic administrator An apostolic administration in the Catholic Church is administrated by a prelate appointed by the pope to serve as the ordinary for a specific area. Either the area is not yet a diocese (a stable 'pre-diocesan', usually missionary apostolic admi ...
of the diocese. At the time of Bransfield's resignation, he was described as an associate of McCarrick.


Investigations and aftermath

After Bransfield resigned, Pope Francis directed Archbishop Lori to conduct an investigation into allegations that Bransfield sexually harassed adults. The investigation was prompted by an August 2018 letter to Lori from Monsignor Kevin Quirk, a
canon lawyer Canon law (from , , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its membe ...
and top aide to Bransfield. In the letter, Quirk alleged that Bransfield had engaged in drug and
alcohol abuse Alcohol abuse encompasses a spectrum of alcohol-related substance abuse. This spectrum can range from being mild, moderate, or severe. This can look like consumption of more than 2 drinks per day on average for men, or more than 1 drink per ...
, sexual harassment, and financial impropriety. In 2019, the five lay investigators overseen by Lori submitted a 60-page report on Bransfield to the
Vatican Vatican may refer to: Geography * Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy * Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City * Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome * Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...
. A copy of the Lori report was obtained by the ''
Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', which reported on the findings in June 2019, Lori released a letter to the priests and laity of the diocese about the investigation on the same day as the ''Post'' article. The ''Post'' published the full Lori report in December 2019.


Sexual harassment

The Lori investigative team determined that the allegations that Bransfield had
sexually harassed Sexual harassment is a type of harassment based on the sex or gender of a victim. It can involve offensive sexist or sexual behavior, verbal or physical actions, up to bribery, coercion, and assault. Harassment may be explicit or implicit, wit ...
adults were "credible". The report stated: "The team uncovered a consistent pattern of sexual innuendo, and overt suggestive comments and actions toward those over whom the former bishop exercised authority," specifically seminarians and young priests. According to a diocesan spokesman, the investigation "found that no criminal activity was undertaken", and the Lori report was not submitted to law enforcement. Lori stated that "the investigation found no conclusive evidence of
sexual misconduct Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature which exists on a spectrum that may include a broad range of sexual behaviors considered unwelcome. This includes conduct considered inappropriate on an individual or societal basis of morality, ...
with minors by the former bishop during its investigation." The ''Washington'' ''Post'' reported the opposite conclusion, stating that the report reads:
“We did not find conclusive evidence that Bishop Bransfield committed sexual misconduct with minors; however, there is significant reason for concern that this occurred,” the report stated, citing “several troubling incidents” involving altar servers.
As summarized in the ''Washington'' ''Post'', the Lori report gave the accounts of nine men in the diocese who accused Bransfield "of touching or groping them, kissing or exposing himself to them or of commenting on their bodies." The report stated that the diocese's
judicial vicar In the Roman Catholic Church, a judicial vicar or episcopal official () is an officer of the diocese who has ordinary power to judge cases in the diocesan ecclesiastical court. Although the diocesan bishop can reserve certain cases to himself, ...
had attempted to ensure that
altar server An altar server is a laity, lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian liturgy. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, helping bring up the gifts, and bringi ...
s were not left alone with Bransfield. The report did not name the complainants; Lori said that information was withheld "due to privacy concerns and at the request of those who alleged harassment by Bishop Bransfield." The Lori report also stated that; * Sexual abuse complaints were raised against Bransfield when he was a teacher at Lansdale High School and rector of the Basilica * The vicar for clergy in the diocese reported that at least six clerical assistants to Bransfield "were broken by" their experiences working under him; * As bishop, Bransfield abused alcohol and prescription drugs, including
oxycodone Oxycodone, sold under the brand name Roxicodone and OxyContin (which is the extended-release form) among others, is a semi-synthetic opioid used medically for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. It is highly addictive and is a commonly ...
, and that this "likely contributed to his harassing and abusive behavior." In interview with investigators, Bransfield denied engaging in any sexual misconduct.


Financial impropriety

The Lori investigation also found that over a ten-year period, Bransfield gave a total of $350,000 in cash gifts to other Catholic clerics, "including young priests he is accused of mistreating and more than a dozen cardinals in the United States and at the Vatican." Bransfield wrote the checks from his personal account, and the diocese reimbursed him for the value of the gifts. The gifts came in the form of at least 565 checks made out to the clerics by name. The Lori report also found that Bransfield, along with several subordinates, spent: * Approximately $1,000 per month on alcohol * $182,000 for fresh flowers delivered daily to the
chancery Chancery may refer to: Offices and administration * Court of Chancery, the chief court of equity in England and Wales until 1873 ** Equity (law), also called chancery, the body of jurisprudence originating in the Court of Chancery ** Courts of e ...
* $4.6 million to renovate Bransfield's church residence after a fire damaged a single bathroom. * church funds for a personal chef and chauffeur. * $2.4 million for corporate jet, limo services and hotel stays. The Lori report found that the diocese financial board was "extremely passive" and lacked adequate
financial control Internal control, as defined by accounting and auditing, is a process for assuring of an organization's objectives in operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations and policies. A broa ...
s, with "an almost complete absence of any meaningful review of financial decisions." The investigators concluded that "Bishop Bransfield adopted an extravagant and lavish lifestyle that was in stark contrast to the faithful he served and was for his own personal benefit." Bransfield denied the findings of the Lori report, but provided no details to corroborate his denial. In a July 2019 interview, he argued that his financial decisions as bishop were justified and approved by diocesan financial officials. One of Bransfield's other changes was that, as head of the board of the Wheeling Hospital, he appointed consultants who improved the financial standing of the hospital, a long-time money-loser, but at the cost of allegedly improperly billing Medicare and Medicaid. Once the hospital was making money, he moved much of its revenue into a charity controlled personally by him which sent some of the gifts to other prelates and officials described above. The hospital's apparent windfall was short-lived, as a Justice Department lawsuit eventually required the hospital to pay back $50 million in a settlement.


Early warnings of financial impropriety

Beginning in 2012, multiple parishioners in Bransfield's diocese complained to church authorities in the United States and the Vatican that Bransfield was engaged in financial abuses, but these complaints were not acted upon. Archbishop Lori, Archbishop Carlo Viganò, then the
papal nuncio An apostolic nuncio (; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio) is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international organization. A nuncio is a ...
to the United States; Cardinal Raymond Burke, then the leader of the
Apostolic Signatura The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura () is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church (apart from the pope himself, who as supreme ecclesiastical judge is the final point of appeal on any ecclesiastical matter). In addition, ...
at the Vatican; and Archbishop Peter Wells, an official at the Vatican Secretariat of State, all received these complaints. Viganò, Burke, Wells, and Lori were also recipients of cash gifts from Bransfield. Between 2005 and 2018, Bransfield had paid $350,000 to clergy in the United States and in the Vatican in what an aide described as an effort to "purchase influence". In July 2019, after the ''Washington Post'' reported on the early warnings, "Wells, Burke and Lori said the gifts did not influence how they responded to parishioners' complaints," while "Viganò said he did not recall receiving complaints and did not give Bransfield favorable treatment" and said that he had donated the funds to charity shortly after the gift was made.


Recommendations of the investigative team

The Lori report "recommended Bransfield be stripped of powers as bishop, removed from ministry and forced to pay restitution" and also recommended that Bransfield's three top aides be removed from office.


Church disciplinary action

In March 2019, following the delivery of the investigators' report, Lori removed Bransfield from "any priestly or episcopal ministry either within the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston or within the Archdiocese of Baltimore" pending review of the report by the
Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...
. In June 2019, Bransfield's three former top aides resigned. In July 2019, Pope Francis banned Bransfield from living in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and forbade him from presiding over or participating "in any public celebration of the Liturgy." Though Bransfield was not
laicized In the canon law of the Catholic Church, the loss of clerical state (commonly referred to as laicization, dismissal, defrocking, and degradation) is the removal of a bishop, priest, or deacon from the status of being a member of the clergy. The ...
, these measures permanently excluded him from engaging in any form of public ministry in the Catholic church. Pope Francis also directed that Bransfield's replacement as bishop determine how Bransfield should "make personal amends" for his actions. Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mark E. Brennan was appointed Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston in late July 2019, and installed in August 2019.


Restitution

In November 2019, Bishop Brennan ordered Bransfield to pay
restitution Restitution and unjust enrichment is the field of law relating to gains-based recovery. In contrast with damages (the law of compensation), restitution is a claim or remedy requiring a defendant to give up benefits wrongfully obtained. Liability ...
of $792,638 to the diocese and to issue an apology "for the severe emotional and spiritual harm his actions caused" to his victims and to the diocese. Brennan also directed Bransfield to pay $110,000 in unpaid taxes to the US Internal Revenue Service. Brennan also revoked some of Bransfield's retirement benefits and barred him from burial in the diocesan cemetery. Brennan's directive is believed to be a rare, perhaps unprecedented, example of a bishop being ordered to pay restitution. In early August 2020, Brennan indicated that Bransfield was not responding to him and had failed to apologize or respond to the restitution directive of November 2019. Later in August 2020, the Vatican approved a reduced restitution package; Bransfield wrote a letter of apology that took no direct responsibility (apologizing for "any scandal or wonderment caused by words or actions attributed to me during my tenure as Bishop") and agreed to pay $441,000 in restitution to the diocese. However, Bransfield continued to maintain "I believed that such reimbursements to me were proper." Under the Vatican agreement, Bransfield was to receive a monthly stipend from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and have the diocese pay his health insurance coverage. Bransfield also retained his title as bishop. Many West Virginia parishioners were critical of Bransfield's lack of remorse and his apology letter saying he believed he did nothing wrong. The diocese said it would reimburse the costs of mental health assistance for "known victims" of Bransfield. Lori, as
apostolic administrator An apostolic administration in the Catholic Church is administrated by a prelate appointed by the pope to serve as the ordinary for a specific area. Either the area is not yet a diocese (a stable 'pre-diocesan', usually missionary apostolic admi ...
, also directed the creation of a "third-party reporting system" for allegations against bishops of the diocese. The
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, established in 1989, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization support group of survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their supporters, founded in the United States. Barbara Blaine, a ...
(SNAP) called for a law enforcement investigation and criticized the church discipline imposed against Bransfield by Brennan as insufficient because they suggested "that Bransfield alone should make reparations." SNAP called for consequences for Church officials who concealed, or failed to address, Bransfield's conduct.


Civil lawsuits

In March 2019, a former personal
altar boy An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian liturgy. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, helping bring up the gifts, and bringing up ...
for Bransfield sued the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, alleging that Bransfield had sexually harassed him for years and sexually assaulted him in 2014. The suit was settled on confidential terms in August 2019. Also in March 2019, West Virginia Attorney General
Patrick Morrisey Patrick James Morrisey (born December 21, 1967) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 37th governor of West Virginia since 2025. He served as the 34th attorney general of West Virginia from 2013 to 2025. A member of the Repub ...
filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of the
State of West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous state in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bureau of ...
against the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and Bransfield, alleging violations of West Virginia
consumer protection laws Consumer protection is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the marketplace. Consumer protection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent businesse ...
. The complaint 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. 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 Discovery may refer to: * Discovery (observation), observing or finding something unknown * Discovery (fiction), a character's learning something unknown * Discovery (law), a process in courts of law relating to evidence Discovery, The Discovery ...
of church records. In September 2019, a second sex-abuse lawsuit was filed in state court in
Ohio County, West Virginia Ohio County is a county located in the Northern Panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia, and forms part of the Wheeling metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,425. Its county seat is Wheeling. The county was f ...
against Bransfield by a former
seminarian A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...
who accused Bransfield of sexual harassment. As of August 2020, one of the two sex abuse lawsuits filed against Bransfield was still ongoing, while the other was settled out of court.


Criminal investigation

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. The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston was
subpoena A subpoena (; also subpœna, supenna or subpena) or witness summons is a writ issued by a government agency, most often a court, to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of ...
ed for documents in connection with the investigation. Bransfield denied the allegation. On August 15, 2021, Bransfield issued a statement apologizing for his actions. Bishop Brennan in September 2021 made this comment about the apology: "For my part, I found his apology self-serving and lacking in any recognition of, or contrition for, actually having offended people."


Notes


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bransfield, Michael Joseph 1943 births Roman Catholic bishops of Wheeling–Charleston 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Living people Clergy from Philadelphia St. Charles Borromeo Seminary alumni Catholic University of America alumni Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals in the United States