Timeline of Child-porn Case That Brought down US Bishop
By Bill Draper
Bishop Robert Finn, who led the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri for nearly 10 years, resigned Tuesday, almost three years after he was convicted of shielding an abusive priest. Back in 2012, Finn admitted that he knew about photos of children on a priest's laptop six months before the images were turned over to law enforcement. That made him the highest-ranking church official in the U.S. to be convicted of not taking action in response to abuse allegations. A look at key developments in the case against Finn: ___ Aug. 20, 2008 — Finn holds a news conference to apologize for abuse that occurred at the hands of current and former clergy members and vows to make sure such abuse never happens again. The diocese tentatively agrees to pay $10 million to settle 47 pending sexual abuse claims involving 12 priests. The abuse happened between 1951 and 1992. ___ May 19, 2010 — Julie Hess, a Catholic school principal, writes a memo reporting that several people had complained that priest Shawn Ratigan was taking compromising pictures of young children. ___ Dec. 16, 2010 — A computer technician working on Ratigan's laptop finds multiple images of girls under 12 years old. ___ December 2010 — Ratigan fails to show up for Mass. Deacon goes to Ratigan's house and finds priest unconscious in his closed garage with motorcycle running. Suicide note found in home says he is sorry for any harm he had caused to church. Ratigan is hospitalized, then placed in psychiatric care. Finn sends him to Pennsylvania for a mental evaluation but does not inform state of possible child sexual abuse, as required by law. ___ February 2011 — Finn assigns Ratigan as chaplain to a convent in Independence, Missouri, where he can say Mass for nuns. Finn orders him to have no contact with children, in person or electronically. ___ May 12, 2011 — After receiving reports that Ratigan was disobeying Finn's orders, Vicar General Robert Murphy contacts police and turns over copies of photos from Ratigan's computer. Additional images are discovered. ___ May 18, 2011 — Ratigan is arrested on three counts of possessing child pornography. ___ Aug. 19, 2011 — Federal grand jury indicts Ratigan on 13 counts of child pornography, including production, attempted production and possession of child porn. ___ Oct. 6, 2011 — Jackson County grand jury issues sealed indictment against Finn and the diocese for misdemeanor charge of failing to report suspected child abuse. ___ Aug. 2, 2012 — Ratigan pleads guilty to five federal counts — one for each minor victim identified by investigators. Eight other counts against Ratigan are dismissed. Prosecutors say they will recommend that he be sentenced to life in prison. ___ Sept. 6, 2012 — Finn is found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of failing to report suspected child sexual abuse to the state as part of agreement between state and diocese officials. His sentence is suspended, and the bishop does not pay a fine or serve any jail time. He serves two years of probation, with numerous conditions, including providing mandated reporter training to administrative staff and clergy. ___ Sept. 12, 2013 — Ratigan sentenced to 50 years in federal prison without parole. ___ April 21, 2015 — Pope Francis accepts Finn's resignation under canon law that allows bishops to resign early for illness or some "grave" reason that makes them unfit for office. The 62-year-old bishop is 13 years shy of the normal retirement age of 75.
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