By George Pawlaczyk
News-Democrat
April 18, 2008
http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/314184.html
A millionaire philanthropist and parishioner of the Diocese of Belleville paid $10,000 to place an ad in USA Today asking Pope Benedict XVI to remove Bishop Edward Braxton and assign him elsewhere to administrative or educational duties.
Benedict is in Washington, D.C., on a U.S. tour that has included meetings with President Bush.
Frank S. Ladner's approximately quarter-page ad ran Thursday in the editorial and columnist section of the eastern edition of the newspaper, which has the largest daily circulation in the United States.
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| Bishop Edward K. Braxton |
Braxton did not respond to the News-Democrat's written request for comment.
After a group of 46 priests asked Braxton to resign, Braxton said in a statement last month, "It is my intention to serve as Bishop of the Diocese of Belleville as long as the Holy Father wants me to do so."
Ladner, 81, of Lawrenceville, who made his fortune in insurance, signed his message, "A parishioner of Immaculate Conception -- Bridgeport, Illinois."
It was titled, "An Open Letter to his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and to the Clergy and Laity of the Illinois Diocese of Belleville." Ladner's ad described Braxton as "highly intelligent," but stated the cleric lacked "pastoral skills."
The ad referred briefly to three letters sent recently by laity, priests and nuns to the pope's U.S. representative Archbishop Pietro Sambi asking for intervention concerning Braxton. These included a recent letter signed by the 46 priests asking for his resignation and citing noncommunication as a main reason.
A story in the New York Times on Monday about the pope's visit referred to the priest's call for Braxton to resign.
Ladner, who with his wife, Julia, donated $7 million since 2003 to his alma mater, St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., said he finally resigned from the Belleville Diocese's foundation because of Braxton.
"I have not been able to cope with Bishop Braxton. He doesn't listen. He doesn't communicate. He simply tells you what's on his mind. And he's always right. He's egotistical as can be," Ladner said in an interview.
Ladner said he is a close friend of former Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory, now the archbishop of Atlanta. He said he keeps Gregory's portrait in a place of honor at his Lawrenceville office.
The USA Today ad is only one of dozens of methods used by special interest groups to try to get the attention of the pope while he is on tour.
Gerry Rauch, president of the Women's Ordination Conference, said her group has a billboard on a truck that urges him to approve the ordination of women as priests. The truck was sent through the streets of Washington near the route of the pope's motorcade.
Sam Sinnett, president of DignityUSA, which represents Catholics who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered, said that despite having representatives in Washington carrying signs, there was little hope of getting the pope's attention.
"There are many groups trying to get the pope's attention. We don't have any real hope of a meeting with him or one of his representatives," he said, "These things ( pope's visit) are very highly orchestrated.
A history professor at St. Louis University who specializes in writing about matters involving the Catholic Church said Ladner's ad may actually cause high-ranking church officials to ignore his message.
"If there was any thought that they were thinking of removing a particular bishop," said James Hitchcock, "for someone to go public like that and sort of say you gotta do it will probably make them less likely to do it."
Ladner said he timed his message to the pope's visit and believes his message will get to the pontiff.
"This was my opportunity to get through to the pope. I think I'm going to get through," Ladner said. "Whether I get what I want accomplished, I can't answer that."
Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@bnd.comor 239-2625.
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