KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter
by Bill Tammeus on Sep. 05, 2012 A small c catholic
As the Catholic church works through the horrific, dispiriting priest abuse scandal and attendant cover-up by bishops, there’s been little to applaud. But when something does go right — or at least mostly right — it’s worth noting.
That’s especially true in the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese. There, Bishop Robert Finn and the diocese are scheduled for a trial starting Sept. 24 on misdemeanor charges of failing to report suspected child abuse by Fr. Shawn Ratigan, who has pleaded guilty to using five girls to produce or try to produce child pornography.
Finn created a five-point plan for the diocese to respond to abuse allegations. The second point called for “appointment of an independent public liaison and ombudsman to field and investigate any reports of suspicious or inappropriate behavior.”
That ombudsman turned out to be Jenifer Valenti, a former assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, Mo. After a year on the job, she issued her first report in July describing the 79 cases brought to her attention, 20 of which had to do with sexual abuse.
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