Priests Lost Confidence in Their Bishop

By Susan Matthews
Catholics4Change
December 4, 2012

http://catholics4change.com/2012/12/04/priests-lost-confidence-in-their-bishop/

Excerpt: “In the three months since Bishop Robert W. Finn became the first American prelate convicted of failing to report a pedophile priest, lay people and victims’ advocates have repeatedly called for his resignation. Now, recent interviews and a private survey by a company working for the Roman Catholic diocese here show for the first time that a significant number of the bishop’s own priests have lost confidence in him.”

Editor’s Note: Seems like hopeful news for common sense until one reads the following, “But the bishop also has a strong base of supporters who contend that the critical priests do not appreciate Bishop Finn’s doctrinally conservative approach. He belongs to Opus Dei, a conservative Roman Catholic organization. Yes, there is a divide in the presbyterate, but in my opinion it’s the same old tired divide that has existed from the day he arrived,” the Rev. Vince Rogers, the pastor at St. Andrew the Apostle in Gladstone, Mo., and a 20-year veteran of the diocese, wrote in an e-mail. “In a word, some of the priests wish that we had a more liberal bishop, and they are willing to use any means to achieve that end.”

Kathy Kane correctly points out that if a volunteer, teacher, nun or priest was found guilty of the same thing, they would no longer be able to work in the diocese. Why is the Bishop exempt? And why would any priest excuse lack of reporting – even if political motives for removal were at hand? Bottom line: Finn failed to report and allowed a child predator to remain in ministry.