The Revs. Jerry Wirth of Olney, Marc Stec of Ridgeway and Edward E. Schaefer of St. Rose said they were among seven Belleville Diocese priests who first met with Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, who provided an introduction to Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, then the papal nuncio or U.S. representative of the pope. Both advised them to meet with Braxton about their concerns, the three priests said.

Bishop Edward K. Braxton

"We felt we had to meet with the bishop because of what George and the nuncio told us," Schaefer said.

The other four priests at the meeting were Monsignor James A. Buerster of Germantown, Monsignor Carl E. Scherrer of Columbia, Monsignor James M. Nall of New Athens, and Monsignor William J. Hitpas of O'Fallon. They could not be reached for comment.

During their meeting with Cardinal George, the priests expressed their concerns about problems they perceived with Braxton's service in the St. Louis Archdiocese and while he was bishop in Lake Charles, La., Stec said.

George told the group the only one who could do something about Braxton's appointment is Braxton himself, who would have to decline the appointment.

Braxton recently released a letter to parishioners stating that shortly before his installation in June 2005, the priests met with him and threatened to release incriminating information concerning his past service unless he refused the job as bishop of Belleville. Braxton stated he told the priests he would not refuse the assignment. He also said in the letter he would not step down despite a March 14 request signed by 46 priests asking him to resign.

The three priests denied they threatened to blackmail Braxton.

The three priests said George paved the way for one of their group to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with Montalvo, who advised this priest that they should meet Braxton.

Wirth, Stec and Schaefer said the priests told George that they also were concerned that the process for selecting a new bishop was not followed properly, specifically that they were not first consulted by the cardinal or the papal nuncio.

According to the U.S. Conference of Bishops, cardinals and the papal nuncio often hear about what qualities diocesan priests believe a new bishop should possess. Priests are not allowed to provide names of priests for consideration as bishop.

"Part of the process typically is a consultation with the nuncio and the cardinal," Schaefer said, "neither of which took place."

Schaefer said that after George advised them to meet with Braxton, he also said: "It's a legitimate appointment. The only one who can stop the appointment from taking place was Bishop Braxton himself."

The three priests said they did not threaten Braxton but did bring up allegations concerning his former jobs that they said made them believe he would not be a good bishop. They declined to give details.

In the more recent call for his resignation, priests cited Braxton's admitted misuse of about $17,100 in money donated to funds for the poor and to educate parishioners and children. He used the money instead to buy new ceremonial garments and furniture for the Chancery in Belleville. Braxton apologized publicly for misusing the money and promised it would be repaid from other sources.

Schaefer said that at the meeting with Braxton in 2005, which was held at the rectory at St. Peter Cathedral, Braxton told them: "Don't judge me by the past but by what I do here. And we were willing to do that. We said, 'Well, let's let it play out and see how it goes. And then it went where we didn't want it to go."

Wirth added, "The bishop can play us against him. We don't want to drag up the past. The issues are here and now."

Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk gpawlaczyk@bnd.com or 239-2625.