KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop Robert Finn appeared in court today to answer to criminal charges alleging he did not tell police last year about child pornographic images that authorities later discovered on a diocesan priest’s computer.
Bishop Finn, who pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of failure of a mandated reporter to report, is the first U.S. Catholic bishop to be criminally charged with sheltering an alleged predatory priest, who authorities said kept hundreds of pornographic photographs of children on his laptop.
“The defendant was a mandated reporter and had reasonable cause to suspect a child may be subjected to abuse,” said Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker during a press conference earlier today.
The May 18 arrest of Father Shawn Ratigan, 45, resulted in the bishop commissioning a report by an outside investigator into the diocese’s response to concerns raised a year earlier about the priest’s behavior. Bishop Finn said he and diocesan lawyers cooperated with the law enforcement investigation.
The charge against Bishop Finn, 58, carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The diocese faces a fine of up to $5,000.
“Bishop Finn denies any criminal wrongdoing and has cooperated at all stages with law enforcement, the grand jury, the prosecutor’s office, and the Graves Commission. We will continue our efforts to resolve this matter,” said Gerald Handley, counsel for Bishop Finn, in a prepared statement posted on the diocese’s website.
“Months ago after the arrest of Shawn Ratigan, I pledged the complete cooperation of the diocese and accountability to law enforcement. We have carried this out faithfully. Diocesan staff and I have given hours of testimony before grand juries, delivered documents, and answered questions fully,” Bishop Finn said.
Baker said the evidence shows that, from Dec. 16, 2010 to May 11, 2011, Bishop Finn and the diocese had reasonable cause to suspect that a child may have been subjected to abuse.
“Now that the grand jury investigation has resulted in this indictment, my office will pursue this case vigorously because it is about protecting children. I want to ensure there are no future failures to report resulting in other unsuspecting victims,” said Baker, who sought to assure the local Catholic community that the case has nothing to with the Catholic faith.
“This is about the facts of this case, nothing more. This is about protecting children,” she said.
On Oct. 6, the Jackson County grand jury returned the indictments against Bishop Finn and the diocese, which is also charged with a misdemeanor count of failure of mandated reporter to report. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office released the indictment after attorneys for Bishop Finn, and the diocese agreed to appear in court on a summons.
The chain of events that resulted in Father Ratigan’s arrest, and Bishop Finn’s indictment, began with a May 19, 2010 memo to the diocese from Julie Hess, the principal of St. Patrick’s School in Kansas City. Hess said the school community feared Father Ratigan, the pastor, was a “child molester,” and that several people had complained that he took compromising pictures of young children and allowed them to sit on his lap and reach into his pocket for candy.
Msgr. Robert Murphy, the vicar general of the diocese, briefed the bishop on the memo, but did not show it to him.
In December 2010, a computer technician working on Father Ratigan’s laptop found what he described as “disturbing images” of children, including pictures focusing on the children’s crotch areas, and a young girl with her genitals exposed.
According to a diocese-commissioned investigation, led by former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves, Msgr. Murphy described one image — but did not produce it — to a police captain who is a member of the diocese’s independent review board. Msgr. Murphy described a single photo of a nude child that was not sexual in nature.
According to Graves’ report, issued Sept. 1, Police Capt. Rick Smith said Msgr. Murphy informed him that Father Ratigan’s computer contained a single picture of a nude girl; that it was a family member or a niece; and that it was not a sexual pose.
However, Msgr. Murphy said he did not remember telling the police captain that the picture depicted a young relative or that it was not a sexual pose.
Either way, the report says Capt. Smith, after seeking advice from a police colleague, told Msgr. Murphy that a single photo in a non‐sexual pose might meet the definition of child pornography, but it would not likely be investigated or prosecuted.
The day after the images were found, Father Ratigan was ordered to meet with diocesan officials, but the next morning, he was found unconscious in his garage, with his motorcycle running, according to The Catholic Key, the diocesan newspaper.
Father Ratigan was placed on administrative leave and underwent a psychiatric evaluation. He was not permitted to return to this parish and prohibited from having any contact with children or using a camera and computer.
On May 12, after Father Ratigan allegedly violated those restrictions, Msgr. Murphy again contacted the police officer, who in turn submitted a report to the Cyber Crimes Against Children Unit. Six days later, police arrested the priest after finding a flash drive with several pictures of child pornography.
On Aug. 9, a federal grand jury in Missouri returned a 13-count indictment against Father Ratigan. The indictment alleges he exploited five minor victims to produce sexually explicit pictures of them. The victims ranged in age from two to 12 years old. The exploitation allegedly occurred at several locations – including a church choir loft – over a six-year period. Father Ratigan is also charged with two counts of possessing child pornography.
The Graves Commission found that diocesan leaders failed to follow their own policies and procedures in responding to reports of child sexual abuse.
“Individuals in positions of authority reacted to events in ways that could have jeopardized the safety of children in diocesan parishes, schools and families,” said the 141-page report.
Graves said the investigation “identified shortcomings, inaction and confusing procedures, but we believe Bishop Finn and the leadership of the diocese understand the gravity of the issues and take these recommendations seriously.” The bishop called the recommendations “comprehensive, thoughtful and detailed.”
Register correspondent Brian Fraga writes from New Bedford, Massachusetts.
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Dear Lord,
When will it ever end?
This is NOT about protecting children. It is about hatred for the Church, with Bishop Finn the stalking horse.
This is deeply disturbing on so many levels. Why did church officials mislead (a police captain),a member of their own review board, by choosing to disclose information about a single photograph when dozens were found? Why, after being told the picture might be pornographic but probably not prosecutable, why were local law enforcement not notified then so they could independently investigate what was found and known.
Why did Msgr Murphy only “brief” the bishop on the most troubling letter of a year earlier detailing numerous concerns by parents from the school principle? What was the bishop told?
After Diocesan officials summoned Fr. Ratigan the day after the computer tech found the numerous pornographic images, what did Fr. Ratigan say? If at that point they restricted his ministry from the parish and from work with children, was it not serious enough to alert authorities at that point?
Unfortunately it is all too clear…church officials knew Fr Ratigan’s behavior was serious, maybe even criminal yet believed they could “skirt the law”. Why should it take 5 months more, for church officials to finally alert authorities after the nuns,(who were not informed of his situation)in the convent where Fr. Ratigan was sent to live, began to complain about his behavior. Finally, to know that months earlier church officials handed the computer and images over to a family member of Fr. Ratigan instead of authorities just smacks of an attempt to conceal his behavior. They choose to protect the priest over their obligation to protect the children with whom he may come in contact. There MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY for all those who have “looked the other way” putting children in harms way. The time for real transparency is long overdue.
To Bishop Finn and all other U.S. bishops: you don’t need any new “procedures.” Just put a large sign on your desk saying, “IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.” It’s just like the signs in New York City busses and subways regarding the terrorist threat.
Sorry, but the track record of some American bishops on child molestation has been terrible. From what I understand, Finn received a derogatory letter a year ago, which he only scanned. I think that the only way SOME bishops will wake up is if the civil law compels them to do what their otherwise discretionary authority has allowed them for several decades to sweep under a rug—which has been festering and finally blown up in their faces.
According to some reports, there were many photos found in December not one but Msgr. Murphy only told Capt. Smith about one. Capt Smith said he was shocked when in May, Msgr. Murphy then said there were many. Bishop Finn took an oath three years previous to report such things immediately as part of a 10million dollar settlement in a previous case. Thus he also broke a court agreement unless Murphy also bs’d him about one photo not many. Read multiple sources on this….Catholic and non Catholic. It’s protean.
How is the school not under investigation as well? Schools normally fall under the strictest category for mandatory reporting, and it is public knowledge the school initiated the complaint to the diocese. Yet isn’t the school itself legally required to report directly and immediately to the police any suspicions?
Bishop Finn is one of the best young bishops in the country. It is a shame he has to be subjecte to this prosecution. It seems many times there is overreaction. I think some have an agenda to bring down the Catholic Church.
More to the point, what is it about the character formation of these individuals ( priests and bishops) that they are unable to recognize the wrongfulness of sexual molestation? I have to keep asking myself what it is about Catholicism that does not instruct in integrity of character? Have any of them ever read the Bible? Or do they just know the formal, complicated doctrines and dogmas of Catholicism that have no connection to Godly behavior?
Someone please explain!
“The Graves Commission found that diocesan leaders failed to follow their own policies and procedures in responding to reports of child sexual abuse.”
I read this report and it is well done. The report alone is enough to prove Finn is guilty. He cannot claim ignorance of the law on mandatory reporting and he cannot claim ignorance of his own procedures that required him to report to the IRB and not handle things himself.
Bishop Finn should not fight this charge, especially using ANY diocesan resources to do so. Show some humility and admit you screwed up legally. Any fine charged against the diocese should come out of Murphy and Finn’s pocket.
To Bishops and Religious in the Church I love: “there is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed.” You are asked to Love the Truth. You are asked to speak the Truth. Anything besides the Truth does not belong to Christ but satan. You shall NOT speak a lie or else not only you will stop seeing the light but you will take the Light out of life of many who come to the Church with not knowing why they are there in the first place. It is You, by your disobedience to the Father, who are opening the umbrellas over the head of the people God the Farher gave you to take care of.
The Church is NOT a place to spend time. It is a place of change and becoming better. When you are scandalizing those little ones you are becoming a witness to the statement that the Church is not Holy. For you, who are having the graces, are the one who are asked to die to yourself for the sake of Christ and those who He died for.
To Priests - we all are priestly nation, but you are not only Priests. You are fathers. The future generation will point at you, and only you as the one of the main reasons of crisis of families. You are supposed to show, and tell the Truth no matter how much you suffer for it, so we can know the Truth. We do not come to the Church to see how learned you are. We come to know the Truth about ourselves and that Truth is painful. And in pain we may overreact. But at the end we will know if you love Christ and thus you love us if you speak the Truth. For telling us nice things and trying to be ‘buddies’ of us you serve NOT Christ. You live for yourself. Wake up, repent, and start loving.
God loves!
Greg
well if the Bishop knew and did nothing then he should be charged to the fulkl extent of the law….......enough with the nonsense
The simple facts are that (a) as part of the 2008 settlement of sexual abuse allegations, this diocese and this bishop made a legal committment to report any allegations of sexual abuse and (b) under Missouri law, clergy are mandated reporters of suspicions of such abuse. Bishop Finn and the diocese failed both these obligations to protect children. Other mandated reporters are routinely fined or receive jail sentences for failure to report. The record of the past in the US and Europe and elsewhere is clear that one cannot depend on the bishops and their lawyers to have the protection of children as their top priority.
Writing this 10 minutes away from where the scandal started, and 10 minutes away from where the indictment was issued, I can say with conviction that the mob mentality and media circus over this is a direct result of the incestuous relationship between SNAP publicists, their tiral lawyers, and the media.
Bishop acknowledged his shortcomings very early on and apologized to the people that it matters to the most: the parishioners at St. Patrick’s. He then let those same parishioners grill him incessantly for 3 hours.
All of Bishop Finn’s detractors have no intention of accepting his apology. Ever. Spite and scandal is all that they are interested in. That goes for the rabidly anti-Catholic DA Jean Peters Baker, as well.
This bishop is not the only one up to his eyeballs in covering up the sexual abuse of children. What is it about sex and the church? Why do the bishops collectively try to manipulate civil law to impose their views about contraception and marriage on the whole country, citing prolife and family values, yet feel free to ignore and disobey civil law intended to protect children? Anyone have an answer?
I want to preface my comment by stating that I am a staunch defender of The Church and know full well that its enemies love this scandal and, as a reluctant NY Times subscriber, was suspecting the Grey Lady was up to its old anti-Catholic tricks when I read this indictment was handed down by yet another DA looking to score some easy political points against The Church. I am against Voice of the Faithful since its your typical ‘progressive’ group advocating to make the Catholic Church as liturgically and theologically impotent as the Episcopalians masquerading as an victims advocacy group. I am a massive Archbishop Dolan, Cardinal George, and Pope Benedict fan, particularly in the way they have handled this situation and feel Benedict was attacked mercilessly in the New York Times for unjustified reasons. But, it seems that once again Bishop Finn followed the old Cardinal Law playbook by trying to keep this under wraps, solve the problem in house, and forgive the pedophile (and apparently even let him serve First Communion while on probation!) instead of immediately turning everything over to the secular authorities to handle. I love The Church and respect its sacred authority, but pedophilia is not a sexual disorder the same way you might discipline a priest for heterosexual and homosexual activity, it is first and foremost a CRIMINAL action against a CHILD. Our pro-life, pro-child, pro-family message and agenda is subverted by allowing Bishops to continue to sweep things under the rug and not recognize the seriousness of this situations. You would think that Finn and Msgr. Murphy treated finding child porn on the computer the same way they would treat catching a priest having a Playboy subscription. It is NOT THE SAME. Fr. Cutie, Fr. Corapi, in my opinion, after sincere prayer and reflection could have returned to the ministry. Fr. Mychal Judge, had he admitted to being a practicing homosexual, might even had been allowed back so long as he committed sincerely to being celibate once again. But, pedophilia is not just a lapse in the discipline of celibacy, it is a justifiable heinous crime in our society. And failing to see that and comply with law enforcement immediately when these cases come up, will only continue to weaken The Church. Voice of the Faithful is wrong to presume that embracing a married priesthood, priestesses, and homosexuality is the way to defend The Church or promote it. Bishop Finn was wrong to presume that doing his job and reporting to authorities was somehow surrendering to the enemies of The Church, frankly failure to report to authorities plays right into their hands and undermines the sincerely true message of faith and family the Church represents.
This is really sad and very, very unfortunate and regrettable. My immediate reaction on reading this Post is that if the Bishop, the School and anyone else who was aware of these facts and shied away from taking action, then the best route is to admit the wrong. It is distressing - if it is indeed true - that the Ordinary appears to have failed in his duty as the Shepherd. Yet the procedures - as laid down in the Church Magisterium on how to effectively and swiftly deal with fallen Priests, the Religious Men and Women under his Authority are there. The Bishop knows them and he should have taken immediate action when the matter was reported to him. But since we do not know why he did what he did, as good Catholics, we are called to pray for him and for Mother Church, being aware that we are are sinners, in need of Forgiveness, Absolution and God’s Graces to take up our Cross daily and follow Jesus Christ.
What about the victims in all of this? I pray for them and the families that have had to deal with a permanent scar…There is no amt of money that can reverse the damage done! Why do people continue to financially support the church that has and will continue to hide? Wake Up and protect our children!!!
How does money heal? This is receiving a worldly gift. What has happened to spiritual healing with prayer and forgiveness?
@smf - yes, school teachers/principals are required to report suspected abuse. So you’ve posed a good question.
@Lawrence Jansen - agreed
@Ken W—agreed. I also live here in the city, on the Kansas side. I’d also note that the “facts” that the prosecutor gloatingly detailed in her press conference last week differed greatly from the facts that were reported when the story first hit the media last spring.
Also, everyone tends to overlook the reality that a grand jury hears only the evidence the prosecutor wants to present to it. The grand jury does not find guilt or no guilt. All the grand jury does is take whatever evidence the prosecutor gives it and makes a determination that their is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and that it was committed by the named person or entity.
So it’s really no surprise that the grand jury returned an indictment, because it was given only the prosecutor’s evidence favorable to indicting.
What’s next? A real trial, where the prosecution will have to prove the defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt AND the defendants will get to produce evidence favorable to themselves.
@Bay Area—for those of us who live in Kansas City and saw the early news reports, Bishop Finn never tried to cover anything up.
There is a reason all this scandal is swirling around a good man like Bishop Finn and nothing is ever done about certain incredibly awful bishops in New York who have much more hideous skeletons in their closet.
Politics.
Bishop Finn believes and teaches the truths of the Catholic faith. Therefore, his every action is under extreme scrutiny. He will be the target of every leftist, anti-Catholic elected official in his diocese and be subjected to the full power of the leftist, anti-Catholic media. He will be falsely accused, lied about, slandered, and have his good name dragged through the mud repeatedly without apology.
Meanwhile, those bishops who support and uphold positions contrary to the Catholic faith—particularly on issues of sexuality—and who oversee the dismantling of Catholic institutions in their dioceses, will be lauded, protected, and have their crimes and those of their lackeys covered up.
But hey, let’s face it. That’s all part of being a Christian. One need only look at Our Lord’s trial where he was accused of being a magician, a con-man, a blasphemer, etc. Satan is the father of lies and his children know how to use them well.
Thank you, Florentius. It is good to read an accurate analysis of what is afoot here. Evidently, there is an ulterior and evil Agenda being pursued here and the good Bishop is another target for the “Firing Squad”. Many of us, who are far away from your country need to hear the Truth of what is actually happening, and the virulent and malevolent attacks which are relentlessly hurled against our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church in that land which has kicked God out of the window and enthroned Satan. But we are encouraged by the Reality that, no matter how much the Enemies of the Catholic Church try to destroy Her, they will never succeed. We, the faithful Children of the Light, will continue to pray and defend our Holy Mother Church, always and everywhere and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against Her
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