BishopAccountability.org
	Protesters Rally at Diocesan Office, Criticize Bishop Handling of Priests Is Target of Their Ire By George Pawlaczyk Belleville News-Democrat April 25, 2007 http://www.belleville.com/100/story/19062.html Belleville — Eight people representing victims of sexual abuse by priests rallied Tuesday outside the offices of the Belleville Diocese, protesting what they say is secrecy by Bishop Edward K. Braxton. A spokesman for the diocese could not be reached for comment. Braxton was out of town on business. "Bishop Braxton is the only bishop in America who has publicly said when the Vatican rules on an abusive priest, maybe he will tell you and maybe he won't," said Barbara Dorris, outreach director of the Survivor's Network of Those Abused by Priests based in St. Louis. "In criminal and civil courts when a determination of guilt or innocence is reached, the public is informed. It should be no different in church court, whether the penalty is defrocking or simply 'a life of penance and prayer,'" she said. On Monday, Braxton released a statement saying Robert J. Vonnahmen had been removed from the priesthood by Pope Benedict XVI. Vonnahmen, who was accused of sexual abuse of boys, has denied the allegations and was never charged criminally. Also, Braxton said "certain cases involving Belleville priests" would not be made public. Several other priests have been placed on administrative leave after they were accused of molesting children in the Belleville Diocese. David Clohessy, executive director of SNAP, said that by keeping what he sees as secret decisions by the Catholic hierarchy involving these priests, Braxton is violating promises made by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas in 2002 to be completely open in matters involving sexual abuse of minors by priests. Former Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory was president of the bishops' conference at that time. "Other victims of these priests might come forward if they knew that the priests were getting off without real punishment," Clohessy said. Braxton wrote that some of the Belleville Diocese priests have been told to "continue in a life of prayer and penance without returning to active ministry." "In these cases the bishop has personally informed the priests in question without any public statement since the status of the priests in question remains the same," Braxton said. The protesters, including several from SNAP, carried signs and asked to meet with Braxton. The protest was outside the chancery offices on Third Street. Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@bnd.com or 239-2625.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.