Some Kansas City Catholics Appear Split over Bishop's Resignation

By Micheal Mahoney
KMBC
April 21, 2015

http://www.kmbc.com/news/some-kansas-city-catholics-appear-split-over-bishops-resignation/32487332

Some Kansas City area Catholics are split after learning of Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn's resignation.

After a midday Mass at Redemptorist Church in Kansas City, some said Finn was driven from office.

"They're not being fair. They're putting it all on his back and he has people working under him," said Virginia Vigliaturo.

"Well, it's unfortunate that it had to come to that, but it was probably the wisest thing the Pope could do," said Ed Stewart, who attended Mass.

Stewart said he liked Finn, but added he thought is resignation would solve a lot of political problems in the diocese.

Finn's resignation was announced in the Vatican early Tuesday.

The Kansas City-based National Catholic Reporter, an independent newspaper that covers the Catholic Church, had called for Finn's resignation because of the way he handled the case of former priest Shawn Ratigan.

"It’s huge, it's huge," said National Catholic Reporter Editor Dennis Coday. "It just doesn’t happen. A bishop usually dies in his post or retires at age 75."

Finn, 62, appears to be in good health.

Ratigan is now serving a long federal prison term for possession of child pornography.

Finn was convicted of not reporting Ratigan’s problems to civilian authorities immediately.

"He thought he was doing the right thing, but he wasn't. And I'm not the only one who feels that way," Joseph Vigliaturo said.

Finn also was controversial for some because of his conservative approach to the church. He angered some Catholics because he replaced liberal priests and pastors.

The National Catholic Reporter cited a former church administrator's report to Rome that the Kansas City diocese had lost almost 25 percent of its members during Finn's 10 years as leader.