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PDF versionAmidst criminal charges, KC diocese appoints chief of staff
by Joshua J. McElwee on Oct. 28, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In what may be a sign the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese is trying to address concerns it will have a difficult time managing its ministerial duties as Bishop Robert Finn and the diocese fight separate criminal charges, the diocese announced today the appointment of a new chief of staff.
Jude Huntz, currently the director of the diocesan human rights office, will assume the newly-created role Nov. 1.
He takes on the position as Finn and the diocese are planning separate defenses against criminal charges, announced Oct. 14 by a county prosecutor, that allege that their handling of a diocesan priest suspected of child pornography amounted to failure to report suspected sex abuse. The charges are the first of their kind in the twenty-five year clergy sex abuse scandal.
For more on the indictments, see: After indictment, KC Catholics wonder what's next.
Announcement of today's appointment came in an e-mail memorandum from Finn, which was obtained by NCR.
In the memo, Finn writes that Huntz will have responsibility for "overseeing and coordinating" inter-departmental operations at the diocesan chancery.
"To ensure that we realize the full potential of our mission and ministries, Jude will be invaluable in helping me select, prioritize, implement and evaluate key initiatives of the Diocese," writes Finn.
"I will be relying upon him to function as an ambassador within our Chancery and to the community."
Huntz, the email states, will also continue in his role at the human rights office. In his new role he will report directly to Finn.
Calls to Huntz and the diocesan spokesperson for comment were not immediately returned this morning.
One might posit that the
One might posit that the appointment of a layman, as opposed to moving in an auxiliary bishop (of which KC-St. Joseph has none) or appointing a senior clergyman, is meant to send a message.
That message is that Robert Finn isn't going anywhere.
The lay chief of staff is very clearly not a potential successor to Finn.
Interesting move.
I predict that Huntz will be sent to situations where Finn might end up taking heat, and that Finn's appearances will become very structured and planned.
Why in the world does a
Why in the world does a diocese need a "human rights office"? Ridiculous.
Because most dioceses are not
Because most dioceses are not very good at dealing with the rights of the humans who they consider to be sheep.
Why? The answer is that
Why? The answer is that almost all dioceses used to call that office 'Peace and Justice'.. Most changed that title because it sounds too OBAMA ...too lefty
Social Concerns, Public Policy, Pro-Life... anything but Peace and Justice.I think Finn's Human Rights wins the HUH? prize.
CWG, what is it about human
CWG, what is it about human rights that you oppose?
Finn hopes we'll all confuse
Finn hopes we'll all confuse movement with progress. It's a familiar old PR strategy - make a lot of announcements and eventually folks will assume that things are changing.
But without real structural reform, forced by external pressure from secular authorities, all the new job titles in the world won't make a difference in this ancient, rigid, secretive, all-male monarchy.
Well said, David. Worse
Well said, David. Worse still, Finn is going to be spending a whole lot of money to put up a "vigorous defense" against the charge that he endangered children. And where will that money come from? It will be the same people who saw their children and grandchildren endangered by this bishop who will end up paying for his defense.
quoted: "In his {Jude Huntz}
quoted:
"In his {Jude Huntz} new role he will report directly to Finn."
So what good is this going to do? Is this new move suppose to make parishioners and victims believe that kids will be safer today?
It just doesn't work that way.
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA, 636-433-2511
snapjudy@gmail.com
"Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests" and all clergy.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Huntz is just another layer
Huntz is just another layer of paint on a cracked and peeling façade. The power structure and priorities remain unchanged. It is another standard hierarchical maneuver... but no behavior modification will occur until bishops (plural) are doing serious prison time as felony accomplices in crime and the Vatican ceases providing safe-haven for these enabling criminal accomplices.
.
Just smoke and
Just smoke and mirrors.
Question: Who does Finn think he's fooling?
Answer: Anyone who he can.
Regarding: "In the memo, Finn
Regarding: "In the memo, Finn writes that Huntz will have responsibility for "overseeing and coordinating" inter-departmental operations at the diocesan chancery.
"To ensure that we realize the full potential of our mission and ministries, Jude will be invaluable in helping me select, prioritize, implement and evaluate key initiatives of the Diocese," writes Finn."
- This either means that the consultors in the diocese have laid the law down to Finn about what he can and cannot do.
and / or
- This means that Robert knows that his days as a sitting bishop are over, whether the Archbishop of Rome, he with whom we are in union, knows it or not.
- The parish leaders, cleric and laic, should now begin a discussion with this new chief of staff about the diocesan synod that needs to occur sooner than latter.
A protection method for all
A protection method for all these problems in Catholic Churches, regarding sexual abuse of children and sinful priests, may be a criminal background checks over the records of the new priests before they are invested in Church service.
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