MORGANTOWN — Lay Catholic Voices for Change is planning a prayer service for the healing of victims of abuse and for reform in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston at 10 a.m. Jan. 25 in Morgantown.
The service marks the one-year anniversary of its first service on the same issue, and will coincide with a similar service to be held at the same time in Wheeling, hosted by A Church Together.
LCVC said the services occur in the wake of the Washington Post’s December release of the Bransfield Report, which describes the sexual and financial misconduct of former Bishop Michael Bransfield.
The secret Vatican report described Bransfield’s grooming, unwanted sexual overtures, sexual harassment, and sexual contact with seminarians and priests. It also detailed that during Bransfield’s episcopacy, diocese expenses exceeded income by $187 million.
“While both LCVC and ACT remain committed to the demand for accountability for DWC financial abuse and the promotion of lay involvement in church governance,” LCVC said, “the focus of the prayer services is the healing of sexual abuse victims.”
The Morgantown service will take place at the Farmers Market on Spruce Street. The Wheeling service will be at St. Michael’s Angelus Center on National Road. People of all faiths are welcome to attend and pray.
