Episcopal Bishop Charles E. Bennison Jr. is under fire over his brother's misconduct.
Sun, Oct. 29, 2006
By David O'Reilly
Inquirer Staff Writer

Episcopal Bishop Charles E. Bennison Jr. is used to church conservatives' denouncing him as a "false teacher" and a "heretic" because of his liberal views on gay clergy, gay marriage and Scripture.

Now moderates and fellow liberals in his five-county, 55,000-member Diocese of Pennsylvania are taking the gloves off, too.

Saying they are frustrated with his financial practices and "imperious" management style, some clergy and lay leaders are seeking to oust the 62-year-old bishop with evidence that he concealed his brother's sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl more than 30 years ago.

The abuse occurred under Bennison's watch; his brother, John, served as youth director of the California parish where Charles Bennison was rector. the rest