Witness: Bishop

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violated duties

By NICOLE NORFLEET
norf/en@phiJlynews.com
2J5.864-M44

No Bible was used to swear in witnesses on the

second day of the ecclesiastical trial of Bishop
Charles E. Bennison Jr., head ofthe Episcopal Di­
ocese of Pennsylvania,
who is accused of turning
a blind eye on his broth­
er's alleged abuse of a
young parishioner.
Instead, the holy book
was referred to during
questioning concerning
the 35-year-old sexual­
abuse case.
"We look at our lord
Jesus as the model for
good pastoring. .. he
Bennison keeps away the wolves,"
said Bishop David E. Rich­
ards, who was in the office of pastoral develop­
ment at the time ofthe abuse.
But Bennison did not act as a "good shepherd"
when he served as rector of St. Mark's church in
Upland, Calif., Richards said in a four-hour video
played yesterday for the trial, being held at the
Center City Marriott.
After becoming aware that his younger broth­
er, John Bennison, was engaging in sexual rela­
tions with a 14-year-old girl in his church, the
bishop did not notify the girl's parents, try to
counsel the girl or immediately fire his brother
as youth-group leader, Richards said.
"Even in a confession, if you hear something
that is life-threatening, you're obligated to do
something about it," Richards said.
'Ib Richards, the sexual abuse that continued
from when the girl was 14 to when she was 19
qualified as "life-threatening" because ofthe irre­
versible mental effects it could have on the vic­
tim
Martha Alexis, who has changed her name
since the abuse, explained how she had consid­
ered killing herself. With her back to the small
crowd, she talked about her discomfort when
Bennison officiated at her wedding.
"It was very awkward," she said. "It was very
uncomfortable. There was this huge, unspoken
secret."
Bennison has led the Episcopal Church in
Pennsylvania since 1998. He was suspended by
the presiding bishop of the national church with
support from the standing committee of the
state diocese in November, after accusations
were brought against him in 2006.
He faces being deposed from the ministry or
being issued a warning iffound guilty ofa canoni­
cal offense. If found innocent by six of the nine
judges, he can resume his episcopal and ministe­
rial powers. The trial is open to the public and
should last through tomorrow. *
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PAGE 10 WEDNESDAY. JUNE II. 2008