Resignation Ends Chapter of Concern for Children

By Mary Sanchez
Kansas City Star
February 5, 2012

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/05/3411896/resignation-ends-chapter-of-concern.html

"Is it good for the children?"

The simple question is familiar to most Kansas Citians. It's one of those good-hearted slogans, commonly met with nodding agreement.

But the words are incredibly difficult to follow as a strict mission. Egos, ingrained chains of command and even well-intentioned attitudes can conflict.

For decades, though, the question has guided Jim Caccamo's career.

Now he's stepping down, resigning as chairman of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese's Independent Review Board, which is charged with handling allegations of sexual abuse.

Caccamo held the post when it was discovered that the church hierarchy had been a barrier to the board's delicate work. The board was never given the specifics of the allegations against the Rev. Shawn Ratigan. Board members were not told many things they needed to know, details that are entwined in the allegations against Ratigan and Bishop Robert Finn, who is accused of failing to report suspected abuse.

Caccamo was outraged when he heard some of those details. No one, not even the bishop, escaped his assessments of their actions, or inaction.

And yet, he was always appropriate, always professional, always a gentleman.

That's what a clear focus can do.

Caccamo's career has been working on behalf of children. For 15 years, he was an administrator in the Independence School District. He's now the director of early learning for the Mid-America Regional Council.

And he was executive director of the Partnership for Children, which trumpeted the question, "Is it good for the children?"

He's also played a crucial role for fellow Catholics as a place to vent their frustrations.

He never shrunk from the seriousness of abuse allegations, from the failures of the church hierarchy, from probing from journalists.

What's needed is a culture change, a realignment in attitudes, so children will be the focus.

Caccamo knows such substantial change doesn't happen quickly. It happens bit by bit.

Caccamo has been a part of the work, which is moving in the right direction.

He never saw his role as a way to protect the church's image, its leaders or even its many followers.

Yet Caccamo's example is a lesson to those who take unfair jabs at Catholicism, painting all of its faithful in a negative light because of the scandals.

The church is its people, those who fill the pews. And Caccamo is among the finest.

Contact: msanchez@kcstar.com