Although [Charles] Bennison badly mishandled his brother’s prolonged sexual abuse of a teenager in his California parish during the 1970s, the appeals court concluded, the church’s statute of limitations on such wrongdoing had expired after 10 years.
“We find that [Bennison] committed conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy,” the eight-member panel of bishops wrote. But “because the statute of limitations has run out . . . we have no choice under the canons of the church but to reverse the judgment of the trial court that [he] is guilty.”
Bennison, 66, described himself as “very gratified” in a teleconference call from Michigan, where he is vacationing. He plans to return to his duties as bishop Aug. 16.
“I hope I am a changed person,” he said, adding that his immediate goal was to listen to the men and women who have led the diocese since his suspension in October 2007. He said he would likely devote more attention to the spiritual affairs of the diocese than to its finances or administration.