Protests Call for Action against Kc Bishop Robert Finn

KMBC
February 17, 2014

http://www.kmbc.com/news/protests-call-for-action-against-kc-bishop-robert-finn/24524972

[with video]

A group of activists is calling on Pope Francis to take action against Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn over his role in the sex abuse scandal in Kansas City's Catholic Church.

Finn was convicted on a misdemeanor count of not immediately reporting a priest who was accused in a child pornography case. That priest, Shawn Ratigan, is now serving 50 years in prison for having sexually graphic pictures of young girls on his computer.

Finn's critics gathered outside the local Catholic headquarters Monday.

James McConnell said he was about to become a deacon, but went to Finn to tell him that he could not serve under him.

"I told him I could not go before him and promise respect and obedience as required for ordination," he said.

This weekend, news broke that an expert in Catholic Church law, known as Canon Law, wrote to Pope Francis, asking him to take action.

The Rev. James Connell, a Catholic law expert, said Finn's negligence in the Ratigan case harmed people, a violation of church law.

"If a bishop can behave this way and his own church does nothing to discipline him in any way, what's that church about?" he said.

"It's a way of saying, 'Church, here's Canon Law. Here's where we see him in violation. What are you going to do about it?'" said Sister Jeanne Christensen of Sister of Mercy.

It may be a long time before anyone knows what, if anything, the Vatican will do, KMBC 9's Micheal Mahoney reported. He said the church bureaucracy is huge and often moves slowly.

There were also more calls Monday for Finn to resign.

Diocese spokesman Jack Smith issued a statement Monday.

"The diocese and Bishop Finn remain focused and committed to the strengthened reporting and training programs, which are creating safer environments in our schools and parishes," the statement said.