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	Bishop Apologizes for Spending Restricted Funds; $18,000 to Be Repaid 'Benefactor' Will Pay It, Braxton Says By George Pawlaczyk Belleville News-Democrat January 23, 2008 http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/235394.html BELLEVILLE — After weeks of controversy between himself and the diocesan finance council, Bishop Edward Braxton issued a public apology Monday for approving spending $18,000 on new furniture and ceremonial garments with money from restricted funds. Braxton also announced he had obtained funding from an "outside benefactor" that would repay $10,100 spent on a conference table and chairs from the local "Future Full Of Hope" account and about $8,000 for new ordination vestments taken from money collected for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. The pontifical fund is dedicated to the poor worldwide and cannot be spent in the country it is raised. "While this gift resolves the immediate question concerning restricted and unrestricted funds, it does not resolve the larger question of the confusion, mistrust, misunderstanding, loss of confidence, and even anger caused by these developments. I regret this very much, and I apologize for anything I may have done, even unwittingly, to contribute to this situation," Braxton wrote. Braxton, who would not accept questions from a News-Democrat reporter, promised to work closely with the finance committee's membership of clergy and laity "... to ensure that such a problem does not occur again." The bishop's statement was met with guarded optimism from the executive council of an influential priest organization, whose members issued their own statement urging Braxton to work more closely with all diocesan priest organizations and to reappoint former Belleville councilman Bill Knapp to another term as chief financial officer of the diocese. "We are hopeful that this crisis can be slowly resolved over the coming months when the bishop continues to restore trust. Otherwise, his recent statement and actions will be the efforts of a classic corporate damage control," read a statement from the executive council of the priest Presbyteral Council. The statement, sent by the council's chairman, the Rev. Jerry Wirth, also urged that the oath of secrecy taken by members of the 16-member finance council be scrapped. Wirth said it was Knapp who raised questions about the purchases within the finance council. Knapp has said the oath of secrecy prevented him from commenting. In December, the finance council wrote to the U.S. representative of Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Pietro Sambi in Washington, D.C., complaining of Braxton's use of the restricted funds. Finance Council member the Rev. Dennis Voss, who has confirmed that the complaint was made, has also stated that the propriety of the oath of secrecy will be discussed. David Clohessy, executive director of the St. Louis-based Survivor's Network of Those Abused by Priests, whose group called Thursday for Braxton to explain the purchases, said, "We're grateful for this decision, but we're even more grateful for the brave Belleville church employees, both laity and priests, who exposed Braxton's wrongdoing." Clohessy said parishioners who may still have doubts that their contributions will be spent properly should "avoid donating in cash, and earmark their checks for specific projects." Monsignor John Kozar, who heads the New York office of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, said after learning of Braxton's statement: "I'm very satisfied and happy that monies that were earmarked for the missions outside the United States will in fact end up going there." He said he also hoped that parishioners continue to donate, and that church officials account for the money. Kozar said, "The church wins whenever there is openness." Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@bnd.com or 239-2625.
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