Clergy abuse rears its ugly head in the Bishop Braxton case:
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) An advocacy group for victims of clergy abuse wants Roman Catholics across southern Illinois to earmark or cut back their tithings to the church until complaints that the bishop misspent money is sorted out.
Pastoral groups in the 104,000-member Diocese of Belleville want Bishop Edward Braxton to address claims that he bought ceremonial garments with about $8,000 in donations to a Vatican world outreach fund.
And the Belleville News-Democrat reports Braxton also may have bought a wooden chancery table and chairs with $10,000 from a fund for children and adults.
Braxton isn’t discussing the complaints publicly.
His ilk is usually above all that public discussion. Bishop Ed, formerly pastor of Oak Park’s St. Catherine & St. Lucy parish, can afford to ignore this, because he has friends in high places.
Blithe Spirit 
All Catholics should make it clear that further economic support requires a change of leadership and a change of behavior. As long as the contributions continue to pour in, the clergy and hierarchy will feel free to go their merry ways.
Too many Catholics think that they have to buy their way into heaven and the clergy’s good graces.
I drive a considerable distance to attend St. Peter’s, Volo, IL because the pastor is a member of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, a traditional order attempting to renew the sanctity of the liturgy. We hear straight-forward, clear sermons explaining Church teaching or the meaning of the Holy Days — no socialistic twisting of the Gospel, no exhibitionism in the Mass. So refreshing.
I also will not donate to Diocesan charity drives if I know that they funnel the contributions to Left-wing organizations — you’d be surprised at some of what is done with the money.
A person who wishes to contribute to worthy causes, can send a check directly to those groups they admire.
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