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	Group Calls for Grand Jury Investigations of Diocese By Glenn E. Rice Kansas City Star June 17, 2011 http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/17/2957598/group-calls-for-grand-jury-investigations.html An activist group on Friday urged prosecutors in Clay, Buchanan and Jackson counties to launch grand jury investigations into allegations of sex crimes and cover-ups in the local Catholic diocese. “We believe that there is a longstanding pattern in this diocese to ignore and conceal child sex crimes,” said David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, at a news conference in front of the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City. “We do know citizens, Catholics and parents in this community deserve an independent, thorough look in how these crimes are dealt with.” Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said she did not know whether her office had received the request. “But once it is brought to my attention, I will review it,” Baker said. She added, however, that “it cannot be a fishing exhibition.” She said grand jury proceedings are conducted in private and declined to speak specifically about the SNAP request. Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese spokeswoman Rebecca Summers said diocesan officials are cooperating with law enforcement in its ongoing investigation of the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, a priest charged with possessing child pornography. Ratigan, 45, is being held on $200,000 bond and has pleaded not guilty. Last month, Bishop Robert Finn conceded that he did not heed past warnings about Ratigan. The diocese last week announced that it had hired former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves to conduct an independent investigation of issues surrounding Ratigan. In addition, Graves will review the diocesan ethical code of conduct and sexual misconduct policies. Clohessy questioned whether the investigation would indeed be independent. “Graves is a former prosecutor with no subpoena power and no real clout,” he said. “He is now a paid consultant to the bishop and was handpicked by the bishop.” Clohessy said his group would like investigators to examine how church supervisors dealt with allegations of sex crimes involving clergy and whether laws were broken regarding mandatory child abuse reporting, endangering children and tampering with evidence. “Each prosecutor has a bully pulpit and should use their bully pulpit to draw out victims, witnesses and whistleblowers,” he said. In April, SNAP leaders hand-delivered a similar letter to the Jackson County prosecutor seeking an investigation into the diocese. On Friday, Clohessy said the group was seeking to renew and expand the earlier request. Rally to support Finn A group called Cross of the Crosier is planning a 10 a.m. parade and rally in support of Finn. The event will begin at the Oratory of Old St. Patrick at 8th and Cherry streets and will proceed to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 416 W. 12th St. To reach Glenn E. Rice, call 816-234-4341 or send e-mail to grice@kcstar.com
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