"We have unequivocal proof that you never reported your brother's sexual molestation of a minor to law enforcement or to the Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles, even though you were mandated by law to do so. You feared for the safety of your own job and sought to protect yourself and your brother, as evidenced by the letters you wrote in 1979 and 1992, which are now in the possession of the Presiding Bishop, your Standing Committee and the Press.

"The sexual abuse perpetrated by John Bennison 30 years ago still has very far-reaching effects today. It has not only affected the victims, but has affected their parents, spouses, children, friends, parishioners from the parishes where the abuse occurred (both adults and youth), and those conscientious clergy and therapists who have sought to facilitate healing and justice over the years. More deeply, it has profoundly affected the victims' religious faith, and shaken or destroyed their trust in clergy and the institution of the church.

"Many have left organized religion all together, and others are struggling mightily with how to express their spirituality when a series of church leaders have betrayed them. Others experienced and continue to experience emotional pain and crises of faith, along with overwhelming fear and disappointment. John Bennison's sexual addiction has left a widespread, keenly felt legacy of clergy sexual abuse that is palpable today, thirty years later.

"You have had four opportunities to come forward with the truth about your knowledge of the abuse perpetrated by your brother and your collusion: when you learned the 14 year old was being abused, when the parents learned of the abuse, when you supported John's reinstatement in 1979, and yet again in 1993.

"You have had ample opportunity to authentically, and with full disclosure, step up to your personal, God-given responsibility in this matter. However, you did not do so. Rather, John Bennison's crimes have been protected and minimized by you, John, Bishop Swing, and the highest levels of the Episcopal Church hierarchy."

"In order to preserve the acknowledgment of the positive and faith affirming contributions of your personal ministry, and to maximize your own credibility in the face of irrefutable evidence of your mistaken judgment in dealing with John's behaviors, we respectfully advise and request you to submit your letter of resignation from your church position (as bishop), including in it an acknowledgment and clarification of your role and personal struggle in dealing with the effects of John's behavior in Upland and (your participation in ) his reinstatement into the ministry in 1979.

"We are requesting that you tender your resignation by Friday, June 9, 2006, in order to preserve and strengthen the credibility of the church during the General Convention, where these issues will be raised, with media present, to document and communicate your honesty, courage and humanity in these matters."

IN OTHER NEWS, victims called on clergy in the Diocese of California to sign a letter calling on the Rev. John Bennison of St. John's Parish in Clayton, California to resign.

In this letter they say the Rev. John Bennison admitted to having sex with a 14-year-old girl in the 1970's over a period of 5 years. We believe there is a threat to the safety of children and other vulnerable persons at St. John's Parish in Clayton, California, as well as in the local community. We also believe that the victims deserve justice.

A full church investigation took place in 1993 in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Bishop Swing participated in the investigation. Despite admission of criminal and unethical behavior, as proven by the Episcopal Church investigation, Bennison has remained in ministry and is currently working with children and families at St. John's Parish in Clayton. He has never been reported to law enforcement. Rather, Bennison has been protected both by Bishop Swing and by ineffective Episcopal Canon Law that allows diocesan Bishops sole decision authority-autonomous ecclesiastical authority-in matters pertaining to clergy abuse.

"The Episcopal Church may think that Bennison's crimes would be forgotten if he changed dioceses and enough time passed. Bennison's crimes, along with his legacy of profound pain and loss, are not forgotten. We ask Episcopal Church Clergy and Parishioners to end their silence! We want to ensure the Episcopal Church takes a long, hard look at how they respond to clergy sexual abuse and how Ecclesiastical authority allows loopholes for perpetrators.

"Bennison is an admitted molester and liar working with families and children. He must be removed and held accountable for his egregious misconduct. Not removing Bennison is tantamount to moral bankruptcy and an indictment of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church has a moral and legal obligation to keep children and church members safe from clergy sexual abuse. All children and church members deserve to be free from clergy sexual abuse abuse. Allowing Bennison to remain in the clergy perpetuates abuse, pain, resentment, emotional and spiritual pain."

Our request is simple and reasonable. We ask Clergy and Parishioners to please sign this letter, or write your own letter, and forward it to the ATTENTION of:

We, the Clergy and Parishioners of _________________________________, hereby state our support of the immediate removal of Reverend John Bennison from the Episcopal Church clergy, dated _____________________2006.

The Presiding Bishop and Bishop Clay Matthews (Office of Pastoral Development) Phone #: 800-334-7626 FAX #: 252-635-5006 pboffice@episcopalchurch.org cmatthews@episcopalchurch.org. A copy should also be sent to:

Joey Piscatelli, SNAP Representative Phone #: 925-262-3699 FAX #: 925-827-4918 (On behalf of "The Victims/Survivors of the Abuse of John Bennison and William Swing") CalJoey1@aol.com stopclergyabuse@comcast.net

Your signatures will serve to encourage the Episcopal Church to be a united front in sending a clear, decisive message to abusers: The Episcopal Church has zero tolerance for clergy sexual abuse and misconduct!

VirtueOnline was informed this week that John Bennison has no intention of resigning despite being asked by Bishop William Swing to tender his resignation and go.

When SNAP leaders went to St. Johns Parish with signs and flyers, they found John Bennison to be more unrepentant than ever. "He gave a sermon about forgiveness, and told the congregation that the survivors outside want to be victims. He has absolutely no intention at all of resigning, and he was bold and cocky, and said that the survivors slander him, and the relationship was a long time ago, and Jesus is all about forgiveness," said Joey Piscatelli, a SNAP official. "His vestry told us that the stories are not true, and we were called names the whole time by most of them."

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