September Trial Set for Bishop Finn, Catholic Diocese

Kansas City Star
January 26, 2012

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/26/3393481/september-trial-set-for-bishop.html

Bishop Robert Finn

A Jackson County judge set a September date for the trial of Bishop Robert Finn and the Catholic diocese in the case of whether they failed to report suspected child sex abuse to authorities.

Lawyers for Finn and the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph met with Judge John Torrence this morning at the Jackson County Criminal Justice Center. Torrence set March 27 as the next pre-trial conference, when the court expects to deal with motions filed by the defense.

Finn and the diocese have pleaded not guilty. Their trial is scheduled for Sept. 24.

A grand jury indicted Finn and the diocese in October for failing to report alleged child pornography involving the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, a priest in the diocese. Ratigan has been charged in state and federal courts with possession of child pornography. He has pleaded not guilty.