Pa. Standing Committee wants Bennison deposed
John T. Connolly of the Philadephia Bulletin writes:
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania has issued its opinion that the bishop should be deposed for covering up the sexual abuse of his brother.Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr., 64, was found guilty of two counts of engaging in conduct unbecoming of a member of the clergy on June 26. The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania presented a resolution in which the majority of member favored deposition of Bishop Bennison, and all favored a sentence that would preclude the bishop from ever serving as a clergyman again. The sentencing document, dated July 30, said that Bishop Bennison's persistent denial of wrongdoing was pivotal in reaching the decision to remove him from service in the clergy.
"Bishop Bennison's inability to accept the fundamental wrongfulness of his own misconduct is a critical factor - the most critical factor, the determining factor - to consider in fashioning an appropriate sentence," the document reads.
