SNAP Protests Bishop Finn Presiding over Deacon Ordinations after His Resignation

KSHB
April 30, 2015

http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/snap-protests-bishop-finn-presiding-over-deacon-ordinations-after-his-resignation

A group of Catholics is speaking out against the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese after it was announced Bishop Robert Finn will still preside over some deacon ordinations next month despite his resignation.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, gathered outside the diocese downtown Wednesday to protest.

Members of SNAP said allowing Bishop Finn to preside over the ordinations reopens victims’ wounds. The group is also worried the ceremonies will lead to Bishop Finn taking back his old responsibilities.

“If he resigns, is he allowed to do ordinations? Is he also going to be doing confirmations, is he going to run the diocese?” Barbara Dorris, the Victims Outreach Director with SNAP, said. “We have no idea. The resignation seems to be purely symbolic. A PR move.”

A court convicted Bishop Finn of failing to report suspected child abuse three years ago.

Bishop Finn traveled to the Vatican and met with a cardinal and tendered his resignation. Pope Francis officially accepted the resignation April 21.

RELATED | Bishop Finn has resigned

A spokesman for the diocese said Archbishop Joseph Naumann, who is serving as interim leader of the diocese until a new bishop is selected, is not available for those ordinations as he has ordinations on the Kansas side on the same days. He said the Papal Nuncio in DC suggested to Archbishop Naumann that Bishop Finn could celebrate those ordinations. Archbishop Naumann then delegated Bishop Finn to do them.