WHEELING — Michael J. Bransfield, the former bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, died Thursday. He was 82.

Diocesan officials in Wheeling announced Bransfield’s death via email, with the following statement attached: “As it is the tradition in our Church to pray for the dead as well as for the living, we pray for the repose of his soul, asking God’s mercy upon him. His funeral and burial will not take place in West Virginia, but we invite all the faithful to pray at this time for his family, friends, and caregivers.”

Bransfield, a Philadelphia native who moved back to his family property after resigning from the church in West Virginia, served as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston from 2005-18. Among the projects completed during his watch was the addition of Tower 5 at Wheeling Hospital, which at that time was Diocesan property.

The former bishop had a sordid tenure as head of West Virginia’s Catholic churches. Allegations of abuse, lavish spending, harassment and more followed him for years, all of which were detailed in the 60-page “Bransfield Report” commissioned by Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore.

The report found “credible” evidence that Bransfield had engaged in inappropriate behavior. As for his spending, the report indicated he used diocesan funds for alcohol purchases, at about $1,000 per month; nearly $200,000 for fresh flowers daily to the chancery offices in Wheeling; about $4.6 million to renovate his church residence in Wheeling; church funds for a personal chef and chauffeur; and nearly $2.5 million for corporate jet, limo services and hotel stays.

Also during Bransfield’s tenure as bishop, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston spent $187 million more than it took in, causing the former bishop to draw from the diocese’s endowment and mineral rights account to make up the deficit, according to the report.

Following his resignation, Bransfield offered a short apology in 2020 for his actions.

“I’m sorry if I offended anyone,” he 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.”