Archbishop focuses on healing, preparing for new KC bishop

By Brad Stephens
KCTV
April 28, 2015

http://www.kctv5.com/story/28913120/archbishop-focuses-on-healing-preparing-for-new-kc-bishop

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

He is a temporary caretaker, but he knows he has an important role to play in the coming weeks.

Joseph Naumann, who has been archbishop for Kansas City, KS for a decade, admits he was stunned when the phone call came from the Vatican on April 17. He was told that Pope Francis on April 21 would accept the resignation of Robert Finn as bishop for the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese.

And Naumann was told that the church leadership wanted him to assume the role as interim bishop. He initially had his reservations, but has overcome them.

"There's been some polarization within the church," he said. "What I hope we can do is begin a process of healing and uniting us as a church," Naumann said. "I think Jesus, he prayed for that for the church."

Finn admitted in court that he failed to alert authorities about Father Shawn Ratigan, who was a pedophile taking pictures of young girls in his parishes. Finn tried to rehabilitate Ratigan after he attempted to take his own life and court documents say Finn's actions allowed Ratigan to continue to have access to little girls even after child pornography was found on his church computer.

Naumann has defended Finn in the past, saying the media had unfairly targeted Finn and that the criminal indictment of Finn was not legitimate.

During an interview Monday with KCTV5's Brad Stephens, Naumann said he was saddened by the uproar surrounding the bishop.

"Bishop Finn has acknowledged that he made mistakes, serious mistakes," he said. "And I think he along with the leadership people around him have really put in some excellent things in place to make sure that those mistakes aren't repeated."

Naumann said he doesn't know how long it will take for the pope to choose a new bishop.

While he hopes it is sooner rather than later, he said it is more important "to get the right shepherd."

He said he sees his interim stewardship as a time of transition.

"Job number one is not to presume I know too much about the diocese and to learn a lot and listen to people well but also to make sure that the normal life of the church continues on," Naumann said.

He said he knows what is good for the church in Missouri is also good for the church in Kansas.

He said he won't be making significant innovations or changes that he would "saddle" Finn's successor with.

"Make it easy as we can for the new bishop when he comes," he said.

He said his focus is ensuring that the new bishop finds a church community united, welcoming him and ready to work together with him.

"It is only when we are united that we can really be effective witnesses for the gospel," Naumann said.

He said he believes those in the diocese are eager to support the church they love, care about and are passionate about. He said he is optimistic about the diocese's future, which is fueled in part by nine new priests being ordained.

"The future of the church is bright," the archbishop said. "I wish people could see what I see in the church. There's just so much good happening every day in our parishes, our schools, Catholic charities and our other ministries."

The Kansas City Star is reporting that Naumann has tapped Finn to ordain seven new priests because Naumann has a scheduling conflict. Naumann said the men had trained under Finn.

“There is closure on this,” Naumann told the newspaper. “Bishop Finn resigned, and the Holy See has accepted it. But he doesn't disappear from the face of the Earth. He still is a bishop.”

When Naumann isn't leading his flock, he enjoys baseball games.

Naumann and his brother were raised by their mother. Naumann's father played in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system, but he died before Naumann was born. His mother made sure that Naumann was a life-long Cardinals fan, but he's also now embraced the Kansas City Royals.