SNAP, Laity Call for Accountability
By Daniel Kelley
Belleville News-Democrat
January 18, 2008
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/231289.html
BELLEVILLE -- Protestors outside the Belleville chancery office Thursday demanded Bishop Edward Braxton disclose information surrounding allegations he misused money earmarked for the poor.
David Clohessy, spokesman for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), joined seven other protestors saying Catholics deserve better than the secrecy surrounding Braxton's purchase of $10,100 for office furniture and $8,000 for new vestments.
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| Belleville Bishop Edward Braxton. |
Fairview Heights resident Jeff Mueller, who is a member of both SNAP and the Fellowship of Southern Illinois Laity, said such conduct would not be tolerated in any other context.
"I cannot for the life of me imagine why people keep giving them money," Mueller said.
Braxton did not respond to a News-Democrat request to comment.
The groups urge Catholics to donate elsewhere or earmark contributions for specific purposes.
The diocese's 18-member Presbyteral Council, headed by Braxton, had hoped the bishop would clarify the spending during a Monday meeting. But the Rev. Jerry Wirth, the council's chairman, said Thursday that Braxton told the group that only the diocese's finance council -- whose members are sworn to secrecy -- could deal with allegations of misuse of funds.
"I guess what we're asking for is accountability and transparency by the bishop on issues, particularly on finances. So far, it seems to be a matter of obfuscation," Wirth said, noting he's "very, very worried" the diocese's faithful, given the allegations, may curtail giving.
"It just looks very bad," said Wirth, pastor of St. Joseph parish in Olney.
Clohessy praised Belleville priests for speaking out.
"It's tough for any employee to be a whistle blower, especially in this case with an employer who has unlimited power," Clohessy said. "We need to recognize the bravery of the priests and encourage people to give more generously than ever, but to organizations who are open to accountability."
Braxton has refused to answer questions from a Presbyteral Council concerning the allegations, which arose in the Diocesan Finance Council.
One finance council member, the Rev. Dennis Voss, has said the finance council complained Dec. 14 to Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the papal nuncio and the pope's U.S. representative in Washington, D.C., about Braxton's use of money from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
Voss said the secrecy oath prevented him from stating exactly what was allegedly spent or purchased except to say it was church-related and came from a special bequest and not the general collection.
Braxton was chided in December by the board that administers a diocesan fund intended to help programs for children and adults, or "Future Full of Hope."
The board of this fund, whose money was raised locally, passed a motion criticizing Braxton for approving the expenditure of $10,100 last year to buy a wooden conference table and chairs for the Chancery.
Contact Daniel Kelley at dkelley@bnd.com or 239-2526.
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