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	Former Diocese Worker Claims Retaliation in Lawsuit Kansas City Star October 7, 2011 http://www.catholics4change.com/2011/10/07/look-to-catholic-lay-leaders-experiences-with-bishops/ After a worker raised questions about a sex abuse case, the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese disabled her email and took away her laptop while she waited at the airport, a lawsuit claims. The diocese also confiscated her business cards, eventually making it impossible for her to do her job, the former worker claimed in the lawsuit filed Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court. Margaret Mata filed the lawsuit against the diocese and Bishop Robert Finn, alleging they retaliated against her for her advocacy within the diocese on behalf of the Rev. Shawn Ratigan’s alleged victims and for promoting changes in policies to prevent future abuse. Citing retaliation, wrongful dismissal and invasion of privacy, Mata is asking for unspecified monetary damages. “If I’d done nothing, if I’d never offered to help, if I didn’t care, I would still be at my job,” Mata told The Kansas City Star in an interview. The Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese issued a statement in response to the lawsuit. “Margaret Mata was an independent contractor writing grants for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph from November 2010 until June 2011,” the statement said. “The diocese categorically denies it ever prevented Mata from performing any work that was within the scope of her agreement as a contract worker.” | Judy L. Thomas, jthomas@kcstar.com
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