A review court verdict reversed itself after finding him guilty of conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy, saying time had run out based on the statute of limitations. Their verdict enabled Bennison to return to work. Bennison had been charged with covering up his brother John Bennison's sexual misconduct with a minor in his California parish over 30 years ago. The brother was inhibited and deposed.

The witnesses included Martha Alexis, the abuse victim; Julia Alexis, her mother; and Maggie Thompson, John Bennison's ex-wife.

They wrote an open letter on Aug. 20 expressing "great sorrow" that the review court verdict had enabled Bennison to return to the Pennsylvania diocese as its bishop. The letter was addressed to the people of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, members of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, and Episcopalians everywhere.

"I want you to know that I share your hope that the Episcopal Church can be, 'a guiding beacon to all people everywhere who are affected in some way by clergy sexual abuse,'" Anderson said, quoting the witnesses' letter. "I also share your frustration that in your case, and in others, our churches were not 'safe sanctuaries' for vulnerable people. And I share your outrage that individuals in positions of authority have been complicit in maintaining a climate of silence and denial that has inhibited our efforts to end sexual abuse within our church."

Anderson said that she shared the wish of the Diocese of Pennsylvania's Standing Committee that Bennison resign, noting that his "lack of remorse about his handling of this situation, and his solipsistic view of what is at stake, concern me deeply." Bennison has publicly stated that he would take exactly the same path he did 30 years ago in dealing with the case. The witnesses wrote in their letter that they were "particularly concerned" that Bennison "stated publicly at trial that he still believes that he acted appropriately in this matter and would take the same approach again if called to do so.

"He has learned nothing," they said.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori inhibited Bennison in October 2007 from exercising his ordained ministry when the church's Title IV Review Committee formally accused him of the inaction. The inhibition expired with the review court's decision.

Bennison returned to diocesan offices on Aug. 16 amid calls for his retirement or resignation, notably from the Standing Committee, which was the ecclesiastical authority during Bennison's inhibition.

The Standing Committee has been at odds with Bennison since the mid-2000s over concerns about how he managed the diocese's assets and other issues. More than once in the past, it has called for Bennison's resignation.

Anderson also said that as a result of the witnesses' letter "and those of numerous others, I have turned my attention to considering the steps that our church might take to prevent this kind of injustice from happening again. In the wake of this decision, it seems essential to address a deficiency in the structures of our church, namely that there is no means of dissolving the relationship between a bishop and a diocese that find themselves in untenable circumstances. I am also considering the calls coming from many Episcopalians to amend our canons to include clergy and laity on the Court of Review."

The bishops composing the Court of Review for the Trial of a Bishop in the Bennison case are Michael Curry (North Carolina), Clifton Daniel (East Carolina, presiding judge), Duncan Gray (Mississippi), Mary Gray-Reeves (El Camino Real), Don Johnson (West Tennessee), Chilton Knudsen (Maine, resigned), Bruce MacPherson (Western Louisiana) and Todd Ousley (Eastern Michigan).

Anderson stated that a review of the canons "is in order" in preparation for General Convention, the Episcopal Church's main legislative body which next meets in 2012.

"I am presently in consultation with members of my council of advice, deputies and others with particular interest and knowledge in these matters to determine the most expedient and efficient way to proceed in this review," she said. "I wish there were more that I could offer you in gratitude for your bravery in the face of all that you have endured at the hands of our church. It grieves me to be another person telling you that my hands are tied, and I know the potential remedies that I am proposing may serve the church in the long-term but do nothing to right the wrongs inflicted upon you.

"But within our polity, this is what is within my power to do. Please know that I will pursue these issues seriously and actively, and with the support and counsel of others in the church who also find this situation unacceptable."

If you would like to sign a petition asking Bennison to step down, you can do so here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/retirebishopcharlesbennison/