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	Braxton Asks for New Trial in $5 Million Ruling By Tim Townsend St. Louis Post-Dispatch September 27, 2008 http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/religion/story/B430843374568750862574D1000D84D0?OpenDocument Bishop Edward Braxton asked for a new trial Friday in St. Clair County court after a jury there last month said the Roman Catholic diocese of Belleville conspired to hide allegations of sexual abuse by one of its priests. A former altar boy was awarded $5 million in the trial. In a letter to his priests that the bishop asked be read to parishioners this weekend, Braxton said while he recognized asking for a new trial "may seem to prolong the suffering of everyone whose lives are touched by the misdeeds of the past … simply complying with the judgment as written would diminish diocesan resources and significantly limit the Church's ability to continue to serve our people." Asking for a new trial, Braxton wrote, "is the only recourse available to give the Diocese the time needed to assess further all of the possible pastoral options available … without putting any of these options in jeopardy." Diocesan officials said they were "unable to comment about ongoing litigation." Critics reacted strongly to Braxton's letter. "Rubbing salt into fresh, deep wounds. That's the only way to describe Braxton's selfish decision to appeal this verdict," the victims advocacy group the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests said in a statement. "He's hurting Catholics, citizens, parents and victims. Braxton should be ashamed of himself, and Catholics should be ashamed of him." Braxton said he understood that some would disagree with his decision. There are those "who think the Diocese should exercise every legal remedy available to appeal this decision, confident that the statutes of limitations and repose will lead to this verdict being overturned," the bishop wrote. "Still others think the Diocese should immediately issue funds in the full amount of the judgment … (which) might help the entire Diocese to put this horrific chapter of our history behind us." In the trial last month, the jury found that the diocese conspired to hush sexual abuse allegations and allowed the priest free rein in the diocese — even after, court records show, church officials knew he couldn't control his sexual urges toward young boys and girls. According to unrefuted documents shown in court, the diocese moved the priest from parish to parish as claims of sexual misconduct came from nearly everywhere the priest went. Those documents allege that the Rev. Raymond Kownacki began sexually abusing an altar boy from Salem, Ill., after being moved from another parish following allegations that he had raped a 16-year-old girl. The girl became pregnant, and Kownacki attempted to perform an abortion. Contact: ttownsend@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8221
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