Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston own a multi-million dollar investment portfolio that was inherited from Sara Tracy in the early 20th century. Tracy was born on December 6, 1827, in New York City. She was the heiress to the fortune of her brother, Edward Tracy. While on a voyage to Rome in 1899, she met Bishop Patrick Donahue of the Diocese of Wheeling on the ship. Tracy spoke with Donahue during their trip on a personal matter. As they disembarked in Europe, Tracy gave him a check of $5,000 for the needs of the diocese.

Tracy continued to support the diocese for the rest of her life and left her entire estate to Donahue. The proceeds allowed Donahue to establish Wheeling Jesuit College and build other facilities across the diocese, as well as to found of numerous outreach ministries.[6] The investments included lands that produced substantial oil and natural gas revenues over the years. Bishop Michael J. Bransfield used the Tracy portfolio to improperly withdraw fund for his personal use. Bishop Mark E. Brennan was the first bishop to fully disclose and list the value of the investments from this fund.

As of 2020, the investments from securities and mineral rights exceeded $286 million dollars. Annual royalty revenues were $13.9 million dollars, with total revenues from investments exceeding $15 million dollars for that year.[7]

On September 13, 2018, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Bransfield and appointed Archbishop William E. Lori as apostolic administrator. Francis then instructed Lori to investigate allegations of sexual harassment of adults against Bransfield.[12]

On July 19, 2019, Francis removed Bransfield from public ministry in the Catholic church and also barred him from residing in the diocese.[13][14][15] Francis also told Bransfield that he must consult with the diocese on a financial replayment.[13] Francis appointed Bishop Brennan, then auxiliary bishop of Baltimore, as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston on July 23, 2019, with his installation taking place on August 22, 2019.[16][17] On August 21, 2019, the first sexual abuse case against Bransfield was settled.[18] On November 26, 2019, Bransfield was ordered by Brennan to pay more settlements, and also forfeit financial and personal benefits from the diocese.[19]

In March 2019, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston and Bransfield, alleging violations of West Virginia consumer protection laws.[20] Morrisey said that the diocese advertised itself as a safe place for children while "knowingly employed pedophiles and failed to conduct adequate background checks" on workers in Catholic schools and camps.[20] The lawsuit was groundbreaking because it named a diocese as a defendant, rather than individual priests, and because it sought to make use of consumer-protection law to obtain legal discovery of church records.[20]

On August 21, 2019, the first sex abuse lawsuit against Bransfield was settled.[18]On September 30, 2019, it was revealed that a second sex abuse lawsuit had been filed against Bransfield[21] and that both lawsuits against Bransfield included the diocese.[21]

In June 2019, after details of the report became public, Morrisey called for the report to be publicly released, and the SNAP, the Survivors Network called for a law enforcement investigation.[22]

In October 2019, the Washington Post reported that police were investigating an allegation that Bransfield molested a nine-year-old girl during a September 2012 pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.,[23] The diocese was subpoenaed for documents in connection with the investigation.[23] Bransfield denied the allegation.[23]

On November 26, 2019, Brennan ordered Bransfield to pay restitution to the diocese in the amount of $792,638 (and $110,000 in back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service) and to issue an apology "for the severe emotional and spiritual harm his actions caused" to his victims and to the diocese.[19] Brennan also revoked certain retirement benefits of Bransfield and barred him from being buried in the diocesan cemetery.[19] The directive is believed to be a rare or unprecedented example of a bishop being ordered to pay restitution.[19] The survivors' group SNAP criticized the measures as insufficient because they suggested "that Bransfield alone should make reparations"; the group called for consequences for Church officials who concealed, or failed to address, Bransfield's conduct.[19] The Vatican later agreed to lower Bransfield's required restitution.[24][25]

On August 20, 2020, an apology written by Bransfield after he paid $441,000 to the Diocese was made public.[26] In his letter, dated August 15, 2020, Bransfield wrote

“I am writing to apologize for any scandal or wonderment caused by words or actions attributed to me during my tenure as Bishop of the Wheeling–Charleston Diocese.”[27]

1. Richard Vincent Whelan (1850–1874)
2. John Joseph Kain (1875–1893), appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of St. Louis and later succeeded to that see
3. Patrick James Donahue (1894–1922)
4. John Joseph Swint (1922–1962), appointed Archbishop ad personam in 1954
   - Thomas John McDonnell (coadjutor bishop 1951–1961); died before succession
5. Joseph Howard Hodges (1962–1974); title changed with title of diocese

1. Joseph Howard Hodges (1974–1985)
2. Francis B. Schulte (1985–1988), appointed Archbishop of New Orleans
3. Bernard William Schmitt (1989–2004)
4. Michael Joseph Bransfield (2004–2018)
5. Mark E. Brennan (2019–present)

• John Joseph Swint (1922), appointed Bishop of Wheeling
• James Edward Michaels, S.S.C.M.E. (1973–1974); title changed with title of diocese

• James Edward Michaels, S.S.C.M.E. (1974–1987)
• Bernard William Schmitt (1988–1989), appointed bishop of this diocese

• Charleston Catholic High School, Charleston
• Madonna High School, Weirton
• Notre Dame High School, Clarksburg
• Parkersburg Catholic High School, Parkersburg
• St. Joseph Central Catholic High School, Huntington
• Wheeling Central Catholic High School, Wheeling

• Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, Wheeling
• St. Francis de Sales Central Catholic, Morgantown. Now operates Pre-k through 8th grade only.[28]
• St. Patrick, Weston
• De Sales Heights Academy, Parkersburg
• St. Margaret Mary (Elementary), Parkersburg
• St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary, Parkersburg
• Bishop Donahue Memorial High School, McMechen