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	Kc Catholic Diocese Postpones Fund Drive; SNAP Responds SNAP August 2, 2011 http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2011_statements/080211_kc_catholic_diocese_postpones_fund_drive_snap_responds.htm Statement by Peter Isely of Milwaukee, national board member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (414-429-7259, peterisely@yahoo.com) The Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic diocese is allegedly delaying a fundraising drive because of controversy surrounding clergy sex crimes and cover ups. But it still refuses to be honest about what has happened and is happening. In a letter to priests, the diocesan hierarchy refers to "the challenge with Shawn Ratigan came to the forefront of our attention." First, let’s remember that Fr. Ratigan is still a priest. It’s deceptive and self-serving for Finn and his staff to pretend otherwise by calling him simply “Shawn Ratigan.” Second, it’s deceptive and self-serving for Finn and his staff to pretend Ratigan wasn’t at “the forefront of our attention.” Finn’s goal is to suggest that a dangerous serial predator was inadvertently kept hidden from law enforcement only because his “attention” was elsewhere. That may be smart public relations, but it’s just not true. We believe that Fr. Ratigan WAS at “the forefront” of Finn’s attention. Finn’s goal, we are convinced, was protecting Fr. Ratigan and stonewalling police and avoiding scandal. It wasn’t a lack of “attention” that caused Finn and his top staff to put kids at risk for at least a year, it was a lack of compassion and an arrogant attitude. Finn’s actions show that he considers himself tp be above the law. (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org) Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com),Peter Isely (414-429-7259, peterisely@yahoo.com),Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com). http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/citing-scandals-kc-diocese-delays-fundraising-campaign Citing scandals, KC diocese delays fundraising campaign by Joshua J. McElwee on Aug. 01, 2011 - NCR Today The diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, which has been in controversy over its response to several allegations of sexual misconduct by priests, has decided to delay a capital campaign "in light of the current challenge." Announcement of the delay of the campaign came this afternoon in a letter from the diocesan vice-chancellor, which was obtained by NCR. According to the letter, written by vice-chancellor Paula Moss to the priests of the diocese, the diocese asked its priests if it should continue with the fundraising drive, which was hoped would raise enough for the construction of a new school in the area, since "the challenge with Shawn Ratigan came to the forefront of our attention." "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." News of the suspension of the campaign comes as the diocese is facing criticism regarding its response to several allegations of sexual misconduct. Fr. Shawn Ratigan, a local pastor whose computer was found to contain child pornography in December, was moved to a religious sisters’ community in January. He lived there for five months before his May 19 arrest. Another local pastor, Fr. Michael Tierney, was removed from active ministry June 2. Tierney had been accused of misconduct earlier, and a lawsuit alleging abuse was filed against him in 2010. The diocese review board had found the earlier allegation not credible. But in May the board met with one person whose allegations they did find credible and also received information from two other individuals making accusations against Tierney. “Fr. Tierney continues to deny these allegations," the diocese said in a statement June 2. Kansas City-St. Joseph bishop Robert Finn received a letter accusing Msgr. Robert Murphy, the vicar general, of sexual misconduct four years ago, The Kansas City Star reported June 9. As vicar general, Murphy received cases of allegations of sex abuse by church workers and made recommendations about how to handle the cases, including which cases to send to the review board. Ratigan, 45, who is being held on $200,000 bond, has pleaded not guilty. In response to the revelations, the diocese announced June 9 that former U.S. attorney Todd Graves is conducting an investigation into diocesan sexual misconduct reporting procedures. It also announced June 30 appointment of an ombudsman and public liaison officer tasked with receiving and investigating cases of sexual misconduct. In response to the ombudsman's hiring, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests said the Kansas City diocese needed "independent" viewpoints on how to reform its procedures. "Kids, parents, and families need independent professionals in law enforcement to step up here. They don’t need the bishop to bolster his staff and call that ‘reform,’" wrote SNAP in a June 30 press release
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