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| Priests Discuss Asking Braxton to Resign By George Pawlaczyk Belleville News-Democrat March 14, 2008 http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/280756.html [with link to statement from the diocesan priests] [contains link to newspaper ad supporting Bishop Braxton] BELLEVILLE — Nearly half the priests of the Belleville Diocese met Wednesday and discussed asking Bishop Edward K. Braxton to resign, said the lone priest who defended the bishop. When the two-hour closed session of 37 priests ended, the Rev. Richard Weidert, a retired priest from Belleville, said he saw his fellow clergymen signing a sheet that would be attached to a letter calling for Braxton's resignation. The meeting was held at the American Legion Hall in Germantown. "They talked about asking the bishop to resign, but I have no way of knowing exactly what the letter will say," said Weidert, 75, who before his ordination at age 63 was a lawyer in St. Louis. At the end of the session, two priest spokesmen would say only that a "plan of action" concerning Braxton would be electronically sent to media today at noon. The delay was to give Braxton a chance to review the statement before reading about it in the media. Weidert was interviewed Thursday when he stopped at the News-Democrat to buy a display ad supporting Braxton. The ad called upon "Faithful Catholics" to support Braxton against "ultra liberal" priest groups. Weidert provided a copy of a statement that was circulated among the priests at the outset of the Germantown meeting. But that statement was not final, and may have been altered considerably or not used at all, he said. The document referred to Braxton's recent misuse of $17,100 in funds donated by parishioners. He purchased ceremonial garments and office furniture from international and local accounts restricted to helping the poor and the religious education of children and adults. While Braxton has publicly apologized and has said the money would be repaid, the priests' statement said "he has lost his moral authority to lead and govern our diocese." The document also called upon Braxton to reappoint auditor Bill Knapp to another five-year term as diocesan financial consultant. Several priests have said Knapp was the first to call attention last year to Braxton's misuse of funds. "Mr. Knapp has earned our confidence during his 10 years of dedicated service to the diocese, and without his presence in the diocesan financial office, we fear that Bishop Braxton will not be held accountable for the administration of the temporal goods and finances of the diocese," the statement reads. The formal request for Braxton's resignation was supposed to have been written Wednesday and delivered to Vicar General Monsignor John McEvilly, Weidert said. Braxton could not be reached for comment. Diocese spokesman David Spotanski said he did not know the bishop's whereabouts. Weidert, who called himself a "minority of one" at the closed session, said, "I'm not saying the bishop is perfect. But what they (priests) are trying to do is a mistake. The bishop is reserved and refined, but he is admired for his homilies. He is respected." The meeting Wednesday is the third instance of clergy and laity meeting to complain about or question Braxton actions. In December, the diocesan finance council, made up of clergy and laity, sent a letter to the pope's U.S. representative, Archbishop Pietro Sambi in Washington D.C., stating that the $17,100 in purchases were inappropriate. In February, another letter was sent to Sambi. This came from the leadership of a national order of nuns who have one of their headquarters in Ruma, the Adorers of the Precious Blood. This letter, which mentioned Braxton by name, called for outside intervention to restore "peace and hope" in the diocese. Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@bnd.com and 239-2625. |
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