Calls for Bennison to be defrocked

Monday, 18th August 2008
George Conger

Sentencing recommendations have been submitted in the trial of the Bishop of Pennsylvania, calling for the Rt Rev Charles E Bennison, Jr, to be defrocked.

On July 30, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania --- the diocese’s governing board --- stated Bishop Bennison should be removed from the ordained ministry. US Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, however, advocated a less severe penalty, urging the bishop never be permitted to hold episcopal office again.

On June 26 a trial court convicted Bishop Bennison on two counts of conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy. The bishop was found guilty of having failed to respond appropriately in 1973 after having learned his brother, who he had engaged to be his youth minister was “engaged in a sexually abusive and sexually exploitive relationship" with a 14-year-old girl. Bishop Bennison was also found guilty of having conspired to cover up the incident. the rest