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	Bishop, Priest Group Hold Face-to-face Dialogue Session News-Democrat August 13, 2008 http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/431683.html BELLEVILLE -- Face-to-face negotiations between Bishop Edward Braxton and a six-member steering committee of priests were held over two days last week, according to a written statement released by the diocese. "The topics discussed included genuine communication, mutual trust, appropriate collaboration, transparency, financial issues and accountability," said the Rev. Jack McEvilly, vicar general. The sessions were moderated by Tom Reid and Maureen Gallagher of the Reid Group, a non-profit consulting group based on Bellevue, Wash., that has been hired by many Catholic dioceses to consult about such problems. The negotiations resulted from a March letter signed by 46 priests -- or about 60 percent of active duty priests in the diocese -- calling for Braxton's resignation. The letter followed months of criticism by priests of Braxton's decision to spend money from restricted funds on new furniture and ceremonial garments, Criticism was also levied by priests who claimed Braxton ignored them and failed to respond to questions ranging from pastoral duties to how parishioners' funds are spent. At least three clergy complaining about Braxton were sent to the papal nuncio in Washington, D.C., the pope's U.S. representative. The steering committee is comprised of McEvilly, the Rev. John Myler, the Rev. Dan Jurek, Monsignor James Buerster, the Rev. Jerry Wirth and the Rev. Dennis Voss. The "Dialogue of Renewal," as the talks have been called, will continue at times that have yet to be determined. McEvilly wrote that the total cost of hiring the Reid Group, "...will not exceed $30,000."
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