According to a church report, a bishop of West Virginia spent church money to buy alcohol, "luxury items" and some home renovations

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The investigation of Bishop Michael Bransfield, former head of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, was led by Bishop William Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore. This is the first in the United States to use the so-called "metropolitan model" since the worsening sexual abuse crisis in the church last summer.

According to this model, when an accusation is made against a bishop, the complaint is handled by the local or Metropolitan Archbishop. These are usually the leaders of the largest cities in the area, hence its name. The Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States is expected to officially adopt this new model at a meeting in Baltimore next week.

Bransfield, 75, whose cousin is a senior official of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, was the highest Catholic bishop in West Virginia since 2005. He resigned last September, when Pope Francis announced the opening of an investigation into his conduct.
The investigation, described by Lori in a public letter to West Virginia Catholics on Wednesday, characterizes Bransfield's 13-year term as a misconduct and sexual misconduct.
Lori's letter was published the same day. The Washington Post has published an extensive investigation into Bransfield's alleged misconduct in West Virginia. Lori had planned to send the letter since last week when he met with members of the West Virginia Finance Council, said Sean Caine, a spokesman for the archdiocese.

"Regarding the allegations of adult sexual harassment by Bishop Bransfield, the investigative team determined that the accounts of those who accused Bishop Bransfield of sexual harassment were credible," said Lori. .

"The team uncovered a consistent set of sexual insinuations, as well as suggestive comments and actions toward those over whom the former bishop had authority," said Lori.

The church-led survey, conducted by five lay experts in civil law, financial law and canon law, revealed no "conclusive evidence of sexual misconduct with minors" said Lori.

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But Lori's letter indicates that Bransfield "is engaged in a pattern of excessive and inappropriate spending." Bransfield "has initiated and completed significant and costly renovations of its private homes in Wheeling and Charleston, as well as its retirement home project, which was halted at my request," Lori wrote.

He notes in the letter that Bransfield gave money to other clergy, including Lori.

The investigation also revealed that Bransfield "misused church funds for personal benefits, such as travel, dinners, alcoholic beverages, gifts and luxury items," Lori writes. The letter did not specify how much money the church had been diverted.

"There is no excuse, nor any adequate explanation, to answer the troubling question of how his behavior was allowed to stay that long," Lori wrote.

Contacted on Wednesday afternoon by CNN, Bransfield said: "The allegations against me are all false.I was very surprised to see the letter from Archbishop Lori today and I'm looking forward to it. to defend myself in Rome. " He declined further comments.

A spokesman for Archbishop Lori refused to publish the report in its entirety, claiming that it belonged to the Vatican and that it would be used to decide Bransfield's fate within the city. church and its possible punishment.

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