KANSAS CITY (MO)
WAMC
By FRANK MORRIS
A Catholic bishop normally governs pretty much unchecked in his diocese — only the Pope can dislodge a bishop. And each time Catholics celebrate Mass in Kansas City, Mo., they pray for Bishop Robert Finn, right after they pray for Pope Francis.
But some Catholics here, like Deacon David Biersmith, refuse to go along.
“When the priest says that, you know, you’re supposed say it with him, but I just leave that out,” Biersmith says. “I just don’t say it. Because he’s not my bishop, as far as I’m concerned.”
Much of the discontent in Kansas City has to do with an incident four years ago. A computer technician found hundreds of lewd photos of young girls on a priest’s laptop. The priest was Shawn Ratigan, and it wasn’t the first sign that he was a pedophile.
But Finn didn’t tell authorities. Instead, he sent Ratigan to a therapist, switched Ratigan’s job and asked him to stay away from children. Ratigan didn’t, and months later a diocese official finally reported him.
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