BishopAccountability.org
	Report Finds 'Shortcomings, Inaction' in Missouri Abuse Cases U.S. Catholic September 3, 2011 http://www.uscatholic.org/news/2011/09/report-finds-shortcomings-inaction-missouri-abuse-cases [the report] KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CNS) -- An independent report commissioned by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to examine its policies and procedures on assessing child sexual abuse allegations found "shortcomings, inaction and confusing procedures," said Todd P. Graves, the former U.S. attorney who headed the investigation. The key finding of the report, released Sept. 1 by the diocese, was that "diocesan leaders failed to follow their own policies and procedures for responding to reports" relating to abuse claims lodged against two priests. The abuse claims and subsequent news accounts over how they were handled led to the investigation. The 138-page report faulted Msgr. Robert Murphy, the diocesan vicar general, who "waited too long to advise the (diocesan) Independent Review Board, a body of confidential advisers to Bishop (Robert W.) Finn, of the allegations." While still vicar general, Msgr. Murphy has been relieved of duties relating to clergy sexual abuse allegations; those were turned over to Father Jerome Powers, diocesan vicar for priests. One issue was Msgr. Murphy's tardy decision to contact police over the suspected misconduct of Father Shawn Ratigan, who was eventually arrested. "Although his contact came five months too late, it probably protected families and children from additional misconduct by Father Ratigan," the report said. One factor in Father Ratigan's case was the discovery of nude photos of very young girls on his laptop computer. "As soon as the photographs were discovered on Father Ratigan's laptop, police should have been formally notified" and it should not have been "left to someone higher up in the food chain," the report said. In his investigation, conducted over 60 days, Graves interviewed 54 witnesses and reviewed thousands of pages of documents and emails furnished voluntarily by the diocese. It involved about 1,200 hours of work. The report contained five recommendations: -- "Any diocesan employee or volunteer who receives a report of current abuse involving a minor must report to the police and the Division of Family Services, whether or not he or she is a mandated reporter," it said. -- "The ombudsman should be notified of reports of current or past sexual abuse of minors, and should also receive reports of two new categories of conduct: sexual misconduct with minors and boundary violations," it said. The hiring of an ombudsman was one point in a five-point plan issued by Bishop Finn in May to address the controversy over diocesan handling of abuse allegations, which peaked with Father Ratigan's arrest; the commissioning of the report was another point. -- "All reports should be immediately investigated by the ombudsman," the report said. -- "The Independent Review Board should be notified of all reports so that it can make a credibility determination and recommendation to the bishop, and certain reports will receive expedited review while the accused is placed on administrative leave," it added. -- "The diocese should take greater steps in offering victim support and in notifying the public regarding priests removed from ministry due to the credible allegations of child abuse." "Graves' recommendations are comprehensive, thoughtful and detailed," said Bishop Finn in a Sept. 1 statement accompanying the report's release. "We understand their importance and are focusing on them so we establish clear, strong and unequivocal procedures for all diocesan personnel and volunteers that ensure the safety of our children today and into the future."
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