KANSAS CITY (MO)
Washington Post
Kansas City judge to hear motions to dismiss in case against Roman Catholic bishop
By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, March 27
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Jackson County judge was scheduled to consider motions to dismiss a misdemeanor charge against a Roman Catholic bishop in Kansas City who is accused of violating Missouri’s mandatory reporter law.
Bishop Robert Finn and the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph were charged last year with failing to report to the Missouri Children’s Division hundreds of photos of young children found on the laptop computer of the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, including a series that showed the exposed genitals of a girl believed to be 3 or 4 years old.
Finn is the highest-ranking U.S. Catholic official to be accused of shielding an abusive priest, and a conviction could send shock waves through a church hierarchy unaccustomed to being held legally accountable for failing to report suspected sexual abuse by clergy members.
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