Parishioner Attends Meeting Saying It Did Not Go Far Enough

By Mike Markewinski
KSHB
February 6, 2012

www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/parishioner-attends-meeting-saying-it-did-not-go-far-enough


[with video]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One Parishioner at St. Patrick's Church in Kansas City said Bishop Robert Finn owes Catholics an apology for allowing the sex abuse scandal to happen.

On Saturday, Finn met with parishioners at the church.

St. Patrick's is the church where Father Shawn Ratigan was when the scandal involving child porn began.

Last May, Ratigan was charged with possessing child porn.

Finn was also charged for failure to report abuse suspicions. He agreed to a plea deal where he would visit churches.

Melanie Lawson is a parishioner and attended the meeting.

She told 41 Action News that she feels Finn has an obligation to parishioners to explain why it took so long for Ratigan to be charged. She said he knew of the inappropriate acts, and did nothing about it.

She said Finn is not a spiritual leader anymore and wants him to step down.

"If you have a leader stand in their position who knows what was going on and he's allowed to keep his leadership role, it sends a message to the clergy and volunteers we don't have to do anything different," said Lawson.

Lawson said Finn did not address the scandal and left an hour after the meeting began.

41 Action News was not allowed inside for the meeting on Saturday.