Edward Braxton

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.

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

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]