KANSAS CITY (MO)
Vatican Insider
The bishop in question is Robert W. Finn of Kansas City, who has been found guilty of failing to report a paedophile priest
Maria Teresa Pontara Pederiva
Rome
Bishops have in the past been removed from their posts for various reasons but never has a bishop refused to leave his post despite being forced to do so because of failing to report acts of paedophilia and despite the fact that just last week Mgr. Scicluna had reiterated that the Pope’s Magisterium on this subject was crystal clear. The case of Bishop Robert W. Finn has baffled members of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City.
On 19 May 2011, Shawn Ratigan, a diocesan priest in Kansas City who served St. Patrick’s parish church and the adjoining school, ended up in jail. He had played a key part in organising pro-life marches and Marian pilgrimages.
The priest was accused of being possession of pornographic images which investigators revealed were taken within the parish church and school. His superior, Bishop Finn, should have implemented the regulations established in agreement with the Vatican.
But he did not. The abuse cases had been reported to the bishop a year prior to this, by numerous parents and by Julie Hess, the school headmistress. Ratigan had even attempted to commit suicide in a garage in 2010 but the complaint about the abuse never reached the right authorities. The priest was removed from the school but a religious body sent him on to the city of Independence in Missouri, where he still had access to a computer and cell phone and even celebrated mass with minors. He was eventually reported, arrested, tried and sentenced in August 2011 but there are still other criminal charges pending against him.
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