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	Bishop Braxton's Letter of Apology News-Democrat September 10, 2008 http://www.bnd.com/ntm/story/467234.html THE DIOCESE OF BELLEVILLE Office of the Bishop September 5, 2008 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, Peace be with you. The sexual abuses of minors by some members of the clergy and the manner in which some dioceses have responded to these abuses have been a source of pain and suffering for all involved. The greatest suffering, by far, has been the suffering of those who were abused in their childhood by individuals who were trusted and respected because they were ordained to represent the love and compassion of Christ Himself. The sexual abuse of minors is a grave sin before God and a civil crime punishable by law. While nothing can be done to undo past offenses, every effort is being made by the bishops of the United States to be vigilant in the formation and the selection of future priests to prevent future occurrences of abuse. Significantly fewer cases of abuse have been reported in recent years. However, even one case is one too many. During the three years that I have served as Bishop of Belleville, I am unaware of any allegations against any member of the clergy of the Diocese suggesting they have abused a minor during this period of time. It is my hope and my prayer that there will be no future allegations suggesting recent misconduct. I know that my fellow priests share this hope and this prayer. Nevertheless, the serious offenses of the past continue to have moral, emotional, and legal consequences in the present. In past years a number of Belleville priests were accused of sexual abuse of minors and removed from ministry. I join with my fellow bishops in expressing deep sorrow to those who have suffered because of the actions of priests. I am acutely aware that these misdeeds have wounded hearts, caused anger and frustration, and alienated clergy as well as laity from the Church. The events of recent weeks have reminded us all that the deep-seated wounds of the past are not fully healed. In a case brought before the St. Clair County Court in 2002 and settled on August 27, 2008, a jury ruled in favor of a man who was abused by a priest in 1973. Concluding that the Diocese had "fraudulently concealed" evidence that the priest had a history of sexually abusing minors, the plaintiff was awarded a substantial financial compensation. I have followed this trial closely each day. The fact that these events took place before I arrived in Belleville does not in any way lessen my concern for the well-being of all involved. It is not the purpose of this letter to make a legal, financial, policy, or media statement. The purpose of this letter is to simply express my pastoral support to everyone in the Diocese in the face of the challenges that past misdeeds place before us today. In my name and in the name of this Local Church, I express my profound and sincere remorse and apology to anyone who was ever abused as a minor by a priest in this Diocese. I will renew the efforts by the Diocese in preventing any future acts of abuse. I assure you that I will never assign a priest to your parish whose sexual abuse of a minor is known to me. I also ask you to join me in a mutual effort to purify our own hearts and ask God's forgiveness for sins of the sexual abuse of minors. In the weeks and months ahead, please pray for everyone who has been harmed by these terrible events. Pray in the petitions at Mass, pray before the Eucharist in your adoration chapels, pray in your Scripture study groups, pray in your rosary groups, pray at all of your parish meetings and gatherings, and pray with your families. We can be confident that the Lord Jesus Christ, who in His earthly life was like us in all things but sin, will surely hear our prayers. Sincerely and prayerfully yours in Christ, The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton Bishop of Belleville P.S. This letter should be read at all of the Masses in the parishes of the Diocese of Belleville this weekend, Saturday and Sunday September 13-14, 2008. I urge you to consider copying the letter and inserting it in your bulletin. If you have a school, please give the letter to the principal so that it may be copied and distributed to the faculty. The principal should also share the letter with school board members and parents.
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