They can hear her abuser's ex-wife describe the horror she felt when she realized her former spouse was actually a sexual abuser, not a philanderer.
They can watch as a distraught Bennison explains why he didn't help the young victim.
No matter what the trial's outcome, its transparency alone makes it historic.
How ironic that it's unfolding in a city where Catholic bishops responsible for covering up past sex abuse in the Philly Archdiocese have yet to be held publicly accountable by name, by their church, for the pain their complicity perpetuated.
Bennison was rector of a California church in the 1970s, where his brother, John Bennison, was a youth minister. Charles Bennison, now bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, has admitted that he knew his brother was in a sexual relationship with a then-14-year-old girl named Martha Alexis.
He also has admitted he did nothing to shield her from further harm. Forget alerting church authorities or the police. Bennison didn't even tell Alexis' parents - those in the best position to protect her - what was happening to their daughter. Only later, when Alexis sought counseling, was she able to tell them herself.
John Bennison eventually moved on to another church and became involved in additional sexual misconduct, which might have been prevented had his brother had the courage to speak for the voiceless.
Charles Bennison is now charged with "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy" for his inaction. If found guilty, he could, among other things, be forbidden from ever again holding church office.
Bennison, it must be noted, had his detractors long before the charges against him came to light. Some argue that his current mess is the result of actions by those who have long wanted him gone, for political reasons having nothing to do with the sex-abuse charges.
