Edward Braxton

Edward Kenneth Braxton (born June 28, 1944) is an American Catholic prelate who served Bishop of Belleville from 2005 to 2020. Braxton previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis from 1995 to 2000 and Bishop of Lake Charles from 2000 to 2005.

Biography

Early life Braxton was born on June 28, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, to Cullen L. Braxton Sr and Evelyn Braxton. He attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and Niles College Seminary, both in Chicago, then St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. He earned Bachelor, Masters, and Bachelor of Sacred Theology degrees, along with a Licentiate in Sacred Theology.

In 1973, Braxton entered the Catholic University of Louvain in Leuven, Belgium, earning a Doctor of Religious Studies degree and a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in systematic theology, summa cum laude. While in Belgium, he ministered at US Armed Forces bases in the area and at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Brussels. In August 1997, Braxton addressed the National Black Catholic Congress on the topic "Take Into account Various Situations and Cultures: Evangelization and African-Americans". He was installed on February 22, 2001.

Braxton was installed on June 22, 2005, as bishop of Belleville in the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Belleville, Illinois. He served as a member of USCCB's Committees on Education, Science and Human Values, and also of the committee on Scripture Translation.

In January 2006, 24 priests in the diocese signed a letter stating that Braxton was not allowing any of their input into decision-making and that he had an arrogant leadership style.

In February 2012, the Reverend William Rowe, pastor of Saint Mary's Church in Mount Carmel, Illinois, resigned from his post 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. However, Braxton's concerns predated that translation's use. He stated that "several meetings ... over the last five years [had] failed to resolve the bishop's concerns." "Several parishioners" had expressed dismay and furnished evidence about Rowe's celebration of the Mass. 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." The pope named Reverend Michael G. McGovern from Chicago as Braxton's successor.