Voice
of the Faithful Focus – A brief update highlighting both a problem in our church and some progress being made as we work together to Keep the Faith, Change the Church.
Progress
The good people and priests in the diocese of Belleville IL have demonstrated that they can successfully stand up to their Bishop and achieve justice. Bishop Edward Braxton misappropriated funds specifically restricted to other purposes to buy clerical robes and furniture. The diocesan finance council, composed of laity and priests, discovered this and made a formal complaint to the Vatican via Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi.
When their complaint was made public, the diocese’s priest senate (with whom Bishop Braxton has had a confrontational relationship ever since his arrival) called for a public explanation.
In reaction to the protest and the notoriety his actions generated, Braxton backed down and issued an apology.
Perhaps this could be best summed up in the words of Msgr. John Kozar of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, who told the Belleville News-Democrat, "The church wins whenever there is openness."
Problem
For some time we have been pointing out how the lack of financial controls in myriad Catholic institutions have resulted in embezzlements. Here are two more recent news stories. The first concerns a parish in Wichita KS where $270,000 has gone missing.
The second concerns a Pennsylvania priest who allegedly stole over $1 million.
These stories happen all too frequently. Last year, a Villanova University study reported that 85% of the dioceses in their survey reported at least one case of embezzlement in the previous five years. Voice of the Faithful has been tracking stories of embezzlements in Catholic institutions and has listed 56 cases totaling $27.7 million since January 2006.
