KC bishop charged with failing to report child abuse

by Joshua J. McElwee on Oct. 14, 2011

See the updated Story here: KC bishop charged with failure to report child abuse

KANSAS CITY, MO. — Bishop Robert Finn of the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese has been charged with failure to report suspected child abuse. The charges, filed in Jackson County, Mo., court were released today.

Bishop Finn appeared in court today and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge.

A statement from the diocese said that "Bishop Finn denies any criminal wrong doing."

He faces up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The charges stem of the case of a local priest who has been charged for possession of child pornography. Images of naked children were found on the computer of Fr. Shawn Ratigan in December last year. The Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese learned about the images and removed Ratigan from his parish, but did not report the incident to authorities until May.

This is a developing story. More to come.

I assume that the bishop's

Submitted by WillS (not verified) on Oct. 14, 2011.

I assume that the bishop's lawyer told him to plead not guilty as a matter of law, however, I'm sure the bishop knows that he is guilty. It wold be interesting to see him found guilty and have to go to prison. Maybe this is what's needed to wake up the church hierarchy. This has nothing to do with the separation of church and state; this has to do with criminal action (or lack of action in this case.)

I hope the sheople in the

Submitted by Who Repealed Vatican II? (not verified) on Oct. 14, 2011.

I hope the sheople in the pews immediately realize that their diocesan appeal just became Finn's legal defense fund!

What took so long? it was

Submitted by cashelguy2 (not verified) on Oct. 14, 2011.

What took so long? it was obvious that the bishop and his vicar general were part of a cover-up. Hopefully there will be justice here, but, considering the money that the bishop will be able to spend on his defense, I'm doubtful.

The writing has been in the

Submitted by BillKeane (not verified) on Oct. 14, 2011.

The writing has been in the wall for months but some refuse to read it. Why does Rome appoint personages who cannot read the signs of the times to positions of responsibility?

"I am not a crook."

Submitted by dennis n (not verified) on Oct. 14, 2011.

"I am not a crook."

This is absolutely absurd! It

Submitted by paulte (not verified) on Oct. 14, 2011.

This is absolutely absurd! It is a clear example of the pernicious anti-Catholicism that permeates our society! Since when has a law like this been on the books?

Is Kansas City or any American city really concerned with sexual abuse in the public schools? I've read of cases where kids have been raped, beaten & tortured in the hallways of our nation's public schools. Where is the concern about that kind of abuse? The silence is deafening! The hypocrsiy of our society disgusts me!

This is a start to protecting

Submitted by Judy Jones (not verified) on Oct. 14, 2011.

This is a start to protecting children today. But all who concealed, did not report to police, or who covered up crimes against kids need to be held accountable.

Hopefully others, who may have knowledge or been harmed by anyone in the KC-St Joe diocese, will have the courage to speak up and report it to police and to prosecutors, however long ago your abuse happened. Keep in mind your silence only hurts, and by speaking up there is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and therefore protecting others.

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/

We are closing comments on

Submitted by Dennis Coday on Oct. 14, 2011.

We are closing comments on this page. To comment, go to the updated story here: KC bishop charged with failure to report child abuse

Dennis Coday
NCR managing editor