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	Diocese Faces Whistle Blower Suit The News-Press October 7, 2011 http://www.newspressnow.com/localnews/29417275/detail.html A former diocesan employee is suing the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph claiming she was ousted as a “whistle blower” to the Rev. Shawn F. Ratigan case. Filed in Jackson County Circuit Court on Friday, the lawsuit alleges the diocese launched a personal investigation into former diocesan grant writer Margaret Mata after she pointed out an error in a press release regarding Rev. Ratigan, who faces state and federal child pornography charges. Ms. Mata claims she was “relieved of her title” for not being Catholic and was unexpectedly asked to sign a confidentiality contract when renewing her contract in June. The lawsuit also alleges the diocese took her computer and erased “key information” and began tracking her e-mails. The diocese said in a statement it denies preventing Ms. Mata from doing work within the scope of her contract. The confidentiality clause in her contract renewal included language to protect and respect the confidentiality of donor information. "As an independent contractor, Mata was expected to comply with diocesan rules that govern use of diocesan property, computer networks, and communications by Internet and electronic means," the statement reads. "As with any other independent contractor or diocesan employee, Mata had no reasonable expectation of privacy in her communications using those diocesan resources." Ms. Mata resigned from the diocese last month.
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