Prediction: Bransfield will die in comfortable obscurity.

The Rev. Michael Bransfield was the Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. He lived quite the lavish lifestyle in one of America's less economically-dynamic states, and was known for sexually-harassing seminarians.

The pontiff, in a disciplinary move that attracted attention, accepted Bransfield's resignation, ordered him to leave West Virginia, to apologize for his actions and to make restitution.

So far, Bransfield has accomplished the first. Which given his history of frequent and lavish travel, appears to be his preference anyway.

His frustrated successor has had no further contact with Bransfield, who issues the occasional response through a lawyer.

The reality is, a man who wrote five figure checks to influential bishops and brazenly-looted a hospital has the cash to live well for the rest of his life. Just like good ol' Ted McCarrick.

And now Bransfield appears to be guilty of disobedience to a pontifical directive. Or maybe not--the wording is a bit unclear. But so what? As the examples of Gustavo Zanchetta and the long-promised-never-delivered McCarrick report from the Vatican demonstrate, the combination of what and who you know is the best protection a corrupt cleric could ask for. And if you add in a formidable reservoir of cash, you will prosper regardless of who is pontiff--just ask Maciel's Racketeers of Christ.

The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate didn't have any of the above, so once they were accused of "crypto-lefebvrism" by some disgruntled members, they were dead.

So, since Bransfield still has cash and connections, he will live out the remainder of his mortal span in comfort. The last thing any of the episcopal brotherhood he knew well wants is to make a sleeping dog bark.