Belleville Diocesan priests ask Bp. Braxton to resign

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Yerusalyim said:
That’s not how my mother understands the situation…as she understands it funds were not “taken out of the wrong account” but misappropriated…and not replaced until the bishop was called on the faux pax.

I don’t care one way or another, but like I said, when 2/3rds of the priests are saying there’s a leadership issues, SOMETHING is wrong…and I suspect there’s blame on both sides.
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You make it sound like his actions are for his own personal gain. Further, most corrections are made after one becomes aware of them…duh.

Glad he has more to do than reconcile his checkbook.

As for the 2/3rds problem… not unusual. As I look at what is happening in the three dioceses around me, and notice the vast differences in parishes, I don’t think I could find one third of the pastors who support the Pope and the authority of the Church. Too many, way too many, insist on doing their own thing.

If they have a bishop who allows or even promotes this, they are happy. If not, they write letters to the press.🤷

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MrS said:
You make it sound like his actions are for his own personal gain. Further, most corrections are made after one becomes aware of them…duh.

Glad he has more to do than reconcile his checkbook.

As for the 2/3rds problem… not unusual. As I look at what is happening in the three dioceses around me, and notice the vast differences in parishes, I don’t think I could find one third of the pastors who support the Pope and the authority of the Church. Too many, way too many, insist on doing their own thing.

If they have a bishop who allows or even promotes this, they are happy. If not, they write letters to the press.🤷

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Sounds like you should move somewhere you might be happier…like…Rome.
 
frommi said:
I can’t have an opinion if I don’t live in the diocese?
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I am questioning where you are coming from that you so vehemently defend the priests.

Many of the posts in this thread are talking about all of the abuses within the surrounding parishes within the diocese, yet that is what you are defending.

That is why I am asking where you are coming from. It appears that you think it is ok to change the mass…is that a wrong assumption?
 
dmelosi said:
I am questioning where you are coming from that you so vehemently defend the priests.

Many of the posts in this thread are talking about all of the abuses within the surrounding parishes within the diocese, yet that is what you are defending.

That is why I am asking where you are coming from. It appears that you think it is ok to change the mass…is that a wrong assumption?
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Maybe frommi will confirm that he is from a diocese which lost its bishop a fews ago (to death). The new bishop has come in, visited each parish, observed each priest, and has begun to lay down the law. Vocations are on the upswing, and many Catholics are very happy with the changes. (and many Catholics in adjoining diocese are also very happy with what we see as a vast improvement)

However, many others are more defensive of the style or traits of the last bishop. And many priests continue to ignore the bishop and retain their personal style and traits in the liturgy.

Being a bishop, here or in Rome, is not easy. Being a good bishop is even harder.

Bishop Braxton would probably have been “asked to resign” by a large number of priests in that diocese too. Both bishops should be told that their diocese are very fortunate to have them.

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dmelosi said:
This is a very vindictive remark. The poster does not say he/she is unhappy.
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At this time of year, especially, the adjective is joyous.

By the way, MrS probably should have been Mr.S from the start, but I have no problem smiling over any confusion.😉

(actually, I would be very happy to be in Rome this week)
 
I’ll gladly confirm two things…

(1) - Mr. S only tells half the story when it comes to my home diocese

(2) - There has been no revolt by the presbyerate there and to suggest there would be if Ed Braxton were appointed is silly.

But hey…dont let facts get in the way of ‘orthodoxy’
 
frommi said:
I’ll gladly confirm two things…

(1) - Mr. S only tells half the story when it comes to my home diocese

(2) - There has been no revolt by the presbyerate there and to suggest there would be if Ed Braxton were appointed is silly.

But hey…dont let facts get in the way of ‘orthodoxy’
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I am not letting any facts getting in the way, but waiting for a response to my questions.
 
frommi said:
I’ll gladly confirm two things…

(1) - Mr. S only tells half the story when it comes to my home diocese

(2) - There has been no revolt by the presbyerate there and to suggest there would be if Ed Braxton were appointed is silly.

But hey…dont let facts get in the way of ‘orthodoxy’
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(1) Perhaps you are right. I apologize. If one needs to hear from both sides of the story, then one can visit this very site:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=151480&highlight=saginaw

and read the comments of many many “observers”. Some are regulars whom posters will recognize as fair and balanced in their posts.

(2) Perhaps the “revolt” you mentioned has not and will not happen in your diocese. I did not say it would happen if Bishop (not Ed) Braxton were there.

However, the disobedience, and the outright continuation of abuses by a number of the clergy is happening. It takes time for a good Bishop to set things right. I pray “your” bishop continues in strength and love to make those changes for the good of the whole Church./

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IronHammer said:
Some additional information I found that some folks may find useful. This is Bishop Braxton’s statement regarding the use of the funds:

diobelle.org/calendar/documents/0122ekb.doc

This link was culled from a series of comments (very interesting reading in themselves) in response to an article published by the Catholic World News here:

cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=57290
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It seems after reading this that it was a mistake in judgement on his part - and not a deliberate desire to misapropropriate funds. It also seems to me that the priests were looking for any reason to ask for his resignation - and found one.
 
dmelosi said:
Where are you coming from on this? I live in the area and am speaking from first hand knowledge.

Unless you are from the area, I have to question your motives.
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Thank you for enlightening us. The press has surely roasted Braxton, as they have Burke. When the news came out that Braxton had misappropiated the funds, it was on the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Buried in the Metro section was a blurb about a protestant minister/youth counselor sex scandal.

Also, if you’ll notice, the article in today’s paper put quote marks around the reimbursement, as if to question the veracity of the reimbursement.

The statement from the priests came two months after Braxton, 63, publicly apologized for spending about $18,000 from restricted diocesan and Vatican funds, which he said he paid back with **“a secured gift.” **
 
qui_est_ce said:
Thank you for enlightening us. The press has surely roasted Braxton, as they have Burke. When the news came out that Braxton had misappropiated the funds, it was on the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Buried in the Metro section was a blurb about a protestant minister/youth counselor sex scandal.

Also, if you’ll notice, the article in today’s paper put quote marks around the reimbursement, as if to question the veracity of the reimbursement.

The statement from the priests came two months after Braxton, 63, publicly apologized for spending about $18,000 from restricted diocesan and Vatican funds, which he said he paid back with **“a secured gift.” **
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Also, if you read the letter that the bishop posted on his website, he clearly states that there was a disagreement at that time that the funds should come from there and told everyone in writing at THAT time that if he was incorrect, he would put the funds in from another source. The impression you get from the media and more shamefully from the priests was that he tried to hide it.
 
From reading this thread I’ve come to believe that these priests have acted with evil intent. The only controversy for me is when will the good bishop be able to free the diocese from these ne’er do wells?

CDL
 
Have the priests who signed the letter to be Bishop made their names known publicly? If they are going to scandalize their Bishop, they should at least have the decency to make their names known, so priests who are not involved in this can also be made known.
 
Elzee said:
Have the priests who signed the letter to be Bishop made their names known publicly? If they are going to scandalize their Bishop, they should at least have the decency to make their names known, so priests who are not involved in this can also be made known.
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Yes they have…the names are public.

Most of the ones that signed are the ones who have been around for a long time.

If you read through the letter the priests wrote, the letters the bishop wrote, then participate in some of the masses in the diocese…to me it is very easy to conclude that it is liberal priests rebelling against a bishop that follows the teachings of the Magisterium.
 
dmelosi said:
Yes they have…the names are public.

Most of the ones that signed are the ones who have been around for a long time.

If you read through the letter the priests wrote, the letters the bishop wrote, then participate in some of the masses in the diocese…to me it is very easy to conclude that it is liberal priests rebelling against a bishop that follows the teachings of the Magisterium.
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Maybe the faithful should put letters telling them to resign in their weekly envelopes instead of money :rolleyes: Then send the money to the Diocese’s coffers. :cool:
 
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