KANSAS City-st. Joe Diocese to Pay $1.1m for Failing to Report Abuse

By Briana O'higgins
KCUR
July 1, 2014

http://kcur.org/post/kansas-city-st-joe-diocese-pay-11m-failing-report-abuse

The Kansas City-St. Joesph Catholic Diocese has been ordered to pay $1.1 million to victims for failing to follow through on their promise to improve how they deal with sexual abuse.

The ruling from an arbitrator says the diocese is responsible for the damages after concluding that it did not promptly report a priest who had produced child pornography, the New York Times reports.

Bishop Robert Finn had previously agreed he would report any suspicion of child abuse to law enforcement officials. The agreement came after a 2008 $10 million settlement with victims of Rev. Sawn Ratigan, a priest.

Earlier this month the insurance company representing the diocese filed suit claiming it shouldn't have to defend the church or pay damages in a litany of sexual abuse cases.