KANSAS CITY (MO)
Chicago Tribune
By Carey Gillam
KANSAS CITY, March 27 (Reuters) – A Catholic Bishop in Kansas City did not have a legal obligation to report suspected child sexual abuse by a local priest even if he knew about it, a
lawyer for the bishop said on Tuesday.
In a preview to the upcoming trial of Bishop Robert Finn of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, a lawyer for Finn asked Jackson County Circuit Judge John Torrence to dismiss the charge against him because he said there was another Diocese official who should have reported the priest to police.
“Bishop Finn had no statutory duty to report. We believe that this is clear,” said attorney J.R. Hobbs in arguing for Judge Torrence to dismiss the case against Finn.
Judge Torrence said he would take the matter under advisement and likely rule on the matter next week.
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