Illinois bishop, diocesan finance council tangle over purchases

Published: 2008-01-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The bishop of Belleville, Ill., whose finance council went to the Vatican with concerns about the source of money he used to purchase some vestments, has said he will ensure that the expenditures are covered from unrestricted funds. The finance council of the Diocese of Belleville in December asked the Vatican to look into how Bishop Edward K. Braxton used money the council members say was collected for an overseas mission fund. In a Jan. 17 statement sent to Catholic News Service, Bishop Braxton said he would meet with the finance council within a few days. "I am scheduled to meet with the finance council in the coming days to examine the question of restricted and unrestricted funds of the diocese," he said in the statement. "It is my intention that these expenditures are paid from funds that have no restrictions on them." Bishop Braxton told CNS that after that meeting a fuller explanation of the situation would be made available.

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