Victims Praise Judge's Ruling against Catholic Bishop

By Barbara Dorris
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
June 13, 2012

http://www.snapnetwork.org/victims_praise_judge_s_ruling_against_catholic_bishop

We are grateful for this ruling. We're confident it will mean that dozens and dozens of KC area victims are a step closer toward healing and closure. We hope it will mean that Bishop Finn and other Catholic officials really will start implementing the 19 prevention steps they promised victims they'd take four years ago.

And we hope it will mean that Catholic officials across the country will be forced to honor their promises, especially those relating to children's safety.

It never should have come to this. In 2008, Bishop Finn signed a deal with 47 victims. He made a commitment to take 19 straightforward, logical and effective prevention steps that the victims devised. Then, month after month, Finn broke the deal. (And, adding insult to injury, he broke it again last year, by refusing to go to arbitration, as the agreement mandated.)

There's really nothing complex here. Finn signed a contract. He broke the contract. Compounding the harm is the fact that it was a good, carefully-crafted contract that made KC kids safer.

Let's hope Finn fights accountability less and starts honoring promises and protecting children more.