Monday, July 23 2012 5:02 PM EDT2012-07-23 21:02:31 GMT
Two witnesses whose testimony in a recent trial in Philadelphia led to speculation that Bishop Bransfield may have abused minors in the late 1970s have clarified that they have no such knowledge or
Two witnesses whose testimony in a recent trial in Philadelphia led to speculation that Bishop Bransfield may have abused minors in the late 1970s have clarified that they have no such knowledge or information.
WHEELING -
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston said they have information that Bishop Michael Bransfield is innocent of the accusations he abused minors.
In a statement, the diocese said that two witnesses whose recent testimony in a Philadelphia trial led to speculation the Bishop may have abused minors in the late 1970's, have since clarified they have no knowledge of the abuse.
In addition, two Philadelphia men have come forward to strongly refute the speculation. At a recent trial where the accusations surfaced, a man was permitted to testify that Father Stanley Gana told him Bransfield had sexually abused a boy in the front seat of his car.
That boy, according to the Diocese, has now been identified as Ronald Rock. Rock confirmed that Bransfield never engaged in any improper conduct of any kind.
According to Rock, "Bransfield was a guy's guy, there was no inappropriate anything."
Another former student with Rock, according to the statement from the Diocese, Tim Love, also confirmed there was no inappropriate conduct.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTRF. All Rights Reserved.
