It's not his usual focus, but a local Catholic bishop is putting the spotlight on improving mine safety.

Bishop Michael Bransfield of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese said on Friday he feels it's his responsibility to bring attention to the issue.

Bransfield said he feels his power is his voice in the community and, in the wake of a Raleigh County mine explosion that killed 29 men, he said he is using that voice to keep the topic at the forefront of the media.

In a news conference at Wheeling Central Catholic High School, he talked about his experience with the mining families who lost loved ones in the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine. He said Mass for those families and said it was tough not to be impacted by the tragedy.

Bransfield said he believes the church has an obligation to be vigilant in ensuring justice is served for the mine victims. He said he doesn’t want the issue to fade away and lead to another mining disaster in the future

The topic is also the focus of a pastoral letter he is issuing. Pastoral letters are usually reserved for issues of great need or problems within a diocese. Bransfield said mining safety is one of the most important issues facing West Virginia right now and anyone with a voice in the community has a responsibility to use it for the cause.

"I think anybody that brings out a greater impact and tries to use whatever resources they have to impact the situation will affect the people around them (and) therefore indirectly or directly affect everybody else in society," Bransfield said.

The bishop did not address any specific company or person; he said all levels have the role of taking some responsibility.

Bransfield said he is also attempting to influence the federal government in hopes the message appeals to leaders and impacts their decisions about improvements to mining safety in the future.

In the meantime, the daughter of one of the miners who was killed in Raleigh County said Massey Energy Co. has offered each family a $3 million settlement.

Michelle McKinney, the daughter of Benny Ray Willingham, said she isn't interested in the offer and would rather take every cent Massey Chief Executive Officer Don Blankenship has.

Massey Energy officials had not commented on the offer as of noon Friday.

The April 5 explosion was the nation’s worst coal mine disaster in 40 years.

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