Edward Braxton

Edward Kenneth Braxton (born June 28, 1944) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, from 2005 to 2020.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Edward Kenneth Braxton
Bishop Emeritus of Belleville
Bishop Braxton in 2009
Archdiocese	Chicago
Diocese	Belleville
Appointed	March 15, 2005
Installed	June 22, 2005
Term ended	April 3, 2020
Predecessor	Wilton Daniel Gregory
Successor	Michael G. McGovern
Orders
Ordination	May 13, 1970 by John P. Cody
Consecration	May 17, 1995 by Justin F. Rigali, J. Terry Steib, and Paul A. Zipfel
Personal details
Birth name	Edward Kenneth Braxton
Born	June 28, 1944 Chicago, Illinois
Previous post	Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis (1995–2000) Bishop of Lake Charles (2001–2005)
Alma mater	St. Mary of the Lake Seminary (M.A., S.T.L.) Catholic University of Louvain (Ph.D., S.T.D.)
Motto	MANE NOBISCUM DOMINE

Styles of Edward Kenneth Braxton
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Biography

Braxton was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 13, 1970.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis

Braxton was appointed an Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis by Pope John Paul II on March 28, 1995.[1] He was consecrated by Justin Francis Rigali on May 17, 1995 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.

Bishop of Lake Charles

Braxton was appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles in Louisiana on December 12, 2000. [2]

Bishop of Belleville, Illinois

On June 22, 2005, he was installed as Bishop of Belleville in the Cathedral of Saint Peter. He succeeded Wilton D. Gregory. He is a member of USCCB's Committees on Education, Science and Human Values, and also of the committee on Scripture Translation. He serves as the convenor of the African American Catholic Bishops. He earned his MA and S.T.L. from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois and a Ph.D in Religious Studies and S.T.D. in Systematic Theology from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.

Braxton, a native of Chicago, has lectured in major cities and townships of South Africa during their annual "winter school." His participation in Jewish-Christian dialogue has taken him to Israel several times. Braxton's interest in the impact of the arts (especially film, television, music, architecture, sculpture, and painting) on religion in contemporary culture is a key factor in his current research.

In August 1997, he addressed the National Black Catholic Congress on the topic "Take Into account Various Situations and Cultures: Evangelization and African-Americans".

His writings have appeared in the Harvard Theological Review, Theological Studies, Irish Theological Quarterly, The New Catholic Encyclopedia, Origins, Commonweal, America, The National Catholic Reporter, and other journals.

The Diocese of Belleville finance council filed a complaint with the Vatican alleging that Braxton had misused funds.[3] This view was first expressed in a letter written by Sister Jan. E. Renz, the U.S. regional superior of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.

In February 2012, the Rev. William Rowe, pastor of Saint Mary's Church in Mount Carmel, Illinois, resigned after Braxton expressed concern about "how Father Rowe celebrated the Mass". Following the implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missal in late November 2011, Braxton had placed greater emphasis on following the translation exactly, but Braxton's concerns predated that translation's use, and "several meetings … over the last five years [had] failed to resolve the bishop's concerns."[4] "Several parishioners" had expressed dismay and furnished evidence about Rowe's celebration of the Mass.[4][5] Rowe said "He mentioned in the letter that we clash in our ecclesiology — our image of the church. He’s right. He seems to consider the church as the bishops’, and my notion is that the church starts with the people.[4] Another priest also resigned after Rowe.[4]

On April 3, 2020, Pope Francis accepted Braxton's resignation as Bishop of Belleville.[6] The Pope named Michael G. McGovern, a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, as Braxton's successor.[7]

See also

•  Biography portal
•  Catholicism portal
•  Illinois portal

References

1. "Diocese of Belleville, IL". www.diobelle.org. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
2. Cheney, David M. "Lake Charles (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
3. "Top nun wants papal intervention in Belleville Diocese; says it's lost trust" by George Pawlaczyk from the Belleville News-Democrat
4. "Illinois Bishop says he didn't 'fire' priest but had to correct bad Mass wording". Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
5. "Rev. William Rowe Fired: Roman Catholic Priest Fired Over Mass Prayers". Huffington Post. February 23, 2012.
6. "Resignations and Appointments, 03.04.2020" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
7. "Pope Francis names new bishop of Belleville, Illinois". Catholic News Agency. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.

External links

• National Black Catholic Congress bio of Edward Braxton
• Diocesan biography
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles Website
• Edward Braxton, "We, too, sing America: The Catholic church and the Museum of African American History and Culture", National Catholic Reporter, February 6, 2017