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Protesters call for embattled Catholic bishop to be removed

By Erin Andersen
Lincoln Journal Star
January 27, 2016

http://journalstar.com/news/local/protesters-call-for-embattled-catholic-bishop-to-be-removed/article_ca6e8279-2992-5718-b8b7-c44b3472dfc1.html

John Krejci (from left), Elle Hansen, Judy Jones and Steven Spaner, members of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), hold a press conference Wednesday in front of the Catholic Chancery. They were asking the Lincoln bishop to remove Bishop Robert Finn from his post as chaplain for a local convent.

Finn

John Krejci (from left) Elle Hansen, Judy Jones and Steven Spaner, members of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), hold a press conference Wednesday in front of the Catholic Chancery.

John Krejci (left) speaks as Elle Hansen holds a picture of her cousin Gilbert Rodriguez during a SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) press conference Wednesday in front of the Catholic Chancery. They were asking the Lincoln bishop to remove Bishop Robert Finn from his post as chaplain for a local convent.

A handful of protesters gathered outside the Catholic Chancery Wednesday and delivered a letter asking Lincoln Bishop James Conley to remove embattled Bishop Robert Finn from his post as chaplain for the School Sisters of Christ the King convent.

The protesters, two of whom represented SNAP -- the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests -- say Finn violated the trust of Catholics and broke the law when he failed to report allegations of child abuse by his priests during his tenure with the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. They say he should be defrocked and not retain the power or prestige associated with the title of bishop.

In 2012, Finn was found guilty of the misdemeanor crime of not reporting to police allegations of child pornography against Father Shawn Ratigan, who later was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Finn, the first U.S. bishop to be charged with failing to report child sex abuse to police in a timely manner, was placed on two years probation, which he completed.

In 2014, months after the Vatican investigated Finn’s effectiveness as a leader, he resigned from the diocese and later retired, keeping the title bishop emeritus.

In December, Conley invited Finn to Lincoln to be chaplain to the School Sisters of Christ the King, a group of nuns with whom Finn has had a longstanding friendship. As chaplain, Finn celebrates Mass, performs sacraments and acts as a spiritual adviser for the nuns but has no administrative authority, said JD Flynn, spokesman for the Diocese of Lincoln.

Conley was out of town on Wednesday; the protesters met briefly with Flynn and had these three demands of the bishop.

* Remove Finn from his post.

* Publicly explain why he hired Finn and apologize.

* Disclose “whether he is importing other ‘wrongdoer clerics’ into his diocese."

“They asked us to talk," said Elle Hansen, who said she lost two cousins to suicide after they were abused by a priest. "Talk is cheap. I said I will be in to talk as soon as they laicize Finn,” Hansen said.

SNAP representatives Judy Jones and Steven Spaner from St. Louis said Lincoln diocese representatives were cordial and interested in helping abuse victims, but they got no indication Finn will be removed or defrocked.

The diocese has said Finn has paid for his mistake and deserves mercy.

“First, he made no ‘mistake,’” Jones said. “He repeatedly and brazenly made deliberate choices to put his comfort and career ahead of the safety of kids and the well-being of victims."

She called it irresponsible of the Lincoln diocese to place Finn in a position of power and trust, questioning how he would handle any child sex abuse allegation.

“‘Mercy’ has already been extended to him by virtue of his continuing paycheck, benefits and exalted title of bishop," Jones said, reading from the letter. "Mercy has yet to be shown to the dozens of victims hurt on his watch or the hundreds hurt by his actions or the thousands of Catholics betrayed by his selfish choices.”

According to SNAP, as many as 26 clerics were accused of child molestation under Finn’s tenure in Kansas City.

Speaking for the Lincoln Diocese, Flynn encouraged abuse victims to go to police, and said the diocese wants to help those who are suffering.

“The Diocese of Lincoln takes protection of children very seriously,” he said. “Any concerns we can address we want to address.”

As for defrocking Finn, Flynn said, that is not in the jurisdiction of the diocese, Flynn said. That comes from the Vatican.

Contact: eandersen@journalstar.com




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