Bishop Suspended, Accused Of Covering Up Child Abuse

Nov. 2, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- An ABC7 I-Team investigation from last year is having a big impact across the country. The bishop of Philadelphia's Episcopal Diocese has been suspended after the I-Team revealed he covered up child sexual abuse committed by his own brother.

Charles Bennison has been suspended as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Philadelphia for "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy."

"I just would hope people would keep the Diocese of Pennsylvania in their prayers. This is a very serious time for us, there's profound sadness that this has happened," says Rev. Glenn Matis, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Bennison was pastor at St. Mark's in Upland during the 1970s when he hired his brother, John, as a youth counselor. Even though he was married at the time, John Bennison carried out affairs with married women in the church and targeted some of the teens he was supposed to be supervising. "Muriel" was 19 years old at the time.

"Being young, I was still used to doing what someone in authority tells you to do. You know, you don't think of saying no," says "Muriel," a victim of John Bennison's.

John Bennison admits sexually abusing this girl starting when she was 14, and it continued over four years, often in his church office or the choir loft. He even brought the girl to bed with his wife.

"It was his fantasy to have a threesome. It was not anything the rest of us wanted to do, but we were pretty heavily controlled by him," says Maggie Thompson, John Bennison's ex-wife.

The church's presentment or indictment against Charles Bennison cites last year's I-Team investigation, and it concludes the bishop knew about the child sexual abuse by his brother, but took no action.

"He knew about the abuse of his brother. My sister told me on several occasions he walked in on them in compromising positions," says "Andy," victim's brother.

The church indictment says, years later, Charles Bennison even wrote the victim's parents a letter explaining why he didn't tell them about the abuse: "I have to be, not a pastor, but John's brother in this situation."

John Bennison eventually became pastor of St. John's in Clayton and remained there for 25 years. He resigned after our I-Team investigation last year.

Now, Bennison's youngest victim and her family are glad that his brother, the bishop, also faces discipline even after all these years.

"John should be in jail. Chuck should not be a priest either. I think they're very fortunate my parents were forgiving people, but I think this is long deserved by him," says "Andy."

Bishop Bennison declined to give us a comment through his staff this afternoon. He now faces a church trial and will be relieved of his duties starting tomorrow.

Have a tip on this or another investigation? E-mail the ABC7 I-Team or call 1-888-40-I-TEAM.

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