Citing scandals, KC diocese delays fundraising campaign

Some will applaud this, as an indication that there is a message being sent to those who only seem to understand power and money.

But I would point out that it can be a double-edged sword.

Not a few Catholic Institutions seem to be afraid to tell the whole truth (or any truth) specifically because of the impact it may have on fund-raising.

At my high school alma mater, Moreau Catholic, "Trustees" have come to mean "fundraisers" and "President" has come to mean "Development Director" (i.e., head funderaiser). It wasn't always that way. But it is now. And those folks just seem frightened to death of anything that might cast the school in a negative light in the eyes of donors.

Ironically, of course, such bodies usually can't see the forest for the trees. Quite a few alumni do see the disconnect between the pretty Mission Statements and Core Beliefs that come and go on web-sites and the actual institutional behavior towards individuals who were wronged by or in the institution.

And Truth has a way of forcing its way out through the cracks, as Malvina Reynolds so poignantly pointed out.

I am getting sick and tired of bishop protecting all his priests while innocent kids are getting molested and the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St Joseph is doing nothing about it. If they putt half of the effort into protecting Catholic community as they did protecting their priest there would not be that many problems. Bishop Finn is the key ingredient to making this happen but he just does not care. I myself had a sit-down meeting with him & his lawyer and he was more worried about how to save face with his priest than he was trying to say what course of action he would take with him.

I was born and raised into Catholic Society, attended Catholic day and boarding schools as well as regular Church attendance. The sexual misconduct of the brothers and priests, the cruelty, sadism and scorn for the uncooperative, the alcohol that they as well as their flock soaked in, the incest within the Catholic families and the constant, unrelenting LIES of this Catholic society....

At every turn in your life you will find a Catholic apologist, a flagellant, a spin-doctor....

Don't let them get away with it. In 300 years they will refer to these times as one in which they were unjustly attacked by atheists, unbelievers, government and Satanic forces and their clergy was accused of heinous crimes. They will claim that the efforts of the faithful, in the name of Jesus, DEFEATED these forces to the greater glory of the mother church.

The entire religion is based on myth and LIES and has done everything in its power to suppress civilization and hold onto their control over the ignorant under their thumb.

Catholicism deserves no sympathy whatsoever....

the real foundational problem here is that fact the the catholic religion basically teaches and promotes anti Christian policy. (preists / bishops. popes are "God on earth", the "God is in control of His church", that people must behave and "be good" to get to heaven, etc....tottal disregard for the actual words of Christ)..these are all incorrect and are reflective of the Pharisee of jesus day. these attitudes go against the very words of Jesus Christ. In an atmosphere of an organization that ignores and dishonors the very Person that it is supposed to worship, sets the stage for all kinds of willful and deliberate unlawful and immoral actions. The power hunger that these folks in catholic management are displaying, shows a model to followers and children alike that the leaders of catholicism are above God and above the law of the land, and we should blindly follow their words and actions as "holy". This will lead to the choices made by followers that are inline with these anti'christian policies and lead to becoming cursed with unpleasant and unforunate events - by choice. God can control His church, but has clearly stated that We as followers are to acheive this by free will obedience.
The negative struggles ahead for this religion and its organization, including schools and local churches, will be the natural response that are deserved for criminal behavior. Any organization and it's leaders that promote and provide a protective culture and home for rapists, perverts, molestors, pedophiles, fornicators, law breakers, adulterers, idolaters, and anti-Christlike behaviorare liklewise quilty of these crimes.
NOTE: any person until these incorrections are ended - by supporting, listening, helping, or having any contact with (especially the children) any catholic religion employee, or catholic organization is also supporting rape and all crimes mentioned.
We can all teach our children the real faith of God through Christ be knowing Hime personally. We can alos help the poor directly, by not using the catholic religion as a middle man. The catholic religion will be taking your offereings and paying legal bills and lawsuits to protect themselves under the disguise of persecution.
Please honor God by ignoring the catholic religion until it aligns itself with the true God.
The catholic religion is closer to Islam, hinduism, new age philosophy, mormonism, and other non Christians docrines, than to True Life with Jesus Christ.
please pray that this religion and its officials and followers join the True Church someday, in the meantime, they need to be cut off from our support while they choose to act and support crime and immorality.

"When we asked our priests for advice and guidance, 75 percent of the priests recommended that we delay our consideration of a capital campaign at this time," writes Moss. "We are following that recommendation."

Of utmost interest is the fact that Bishop Finn has consulted his clergy! Of those who were consulted, 75% suggested that going forward with a major fundraising effort to build a new school would be a bad idea 'right now,' considering the Ratigan episode. And the other 25%?

What might have happened had he consulted the laity, especially those people in schools where child abuse has happened and been ignored?

The church is closing or merging parshes across this country due to a lack of priests or the 'purification' of the one true church as defined by the Pope.

I'd bet the decision was made by Finn's PR firm and the special attorneys who can clearly see the folly involved in such an effort. Let him clean up the schools he already has.

"the challenge with Shawn Ratigan came to the forefront of our attention" ??

I suppose to Finn it is/was a challenge to keep the lid on the crimes by this priest and others, but it is not working.

This diocese desperately needs an outside law enforcement investigation into sex crimes against kids and the cover up of those crimes. The full truth needs to be exposed so that kids can be safe within this system.

Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA, 636-433-2511
snapjudy@gmail.com
"Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests"
http://www.snapnetwork.org/

This was a smart move on the part of the diocese. While Bishop Finn is still in his position, there will not be a better time to ask the parishioners to give additional money to the diocese, regardless of the need for a new school or any other initiative.

We are angry. We are disgusted. We are fed up. We were told that all of this was in the past, and assured that there were measures in place to protect God’s children. Bishop Finn's failure to report a suspected and likely (based on the detailed information provided in the principal's letter) child predator to the authorities was a grave error in judgment and failure in responsibility, and left Ratigan free to prey upon other children. Bishop Finn’s unwillingness to accept any responsibility in the matter is only hurting the Catholic community and many wonderful priests serving in our diocese. Finn’s actions are having tremendous negative impact on the many positive works that come from the time, talent and treasure of those who truly desire to live as the hands and feet of Christ.

Removal from his position in the diocese is a consequence in line with Bishop Finn’s failure to perform in his position. He has proven that he is not protecting God's children. He committed to stepping up, and he has not. It is time for him to step down, and spare our diocese additional harm.

Parents - keep children away from Catholic priests.

That's the most important thing. The Catholic church is still hiding pedophile priests to this day, and Kansas City is just one example where they were stupid enough to get caught. Most of the diocese are smarter and hide them better.

Even in this little sample, the Catholic church shows that it cannot be honest, minimizing the truth about the scandal as "in light of the current challenge".

They could never be honest enough to call it "our unforgivable recklessness in keeping a pedophile away from children". Of course, we now know that the Catholic church hasn't been honest in all of our lifetimes.

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