KANSAS CITY (MO)
The Kansas City Star
BY MARY SANCHEZ
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
07/01/2014
The convicted proof of what led to the latest scandal for the Kansas City diocese languishes in prison today: Shawn Ratigan, sentenced to 50 years for child pornography.
The details of Ratigan’s guilt, the horrendous way the diocese stalled instead of immediately reporting him to authorities, is at play now in an order to pay $1.1 million in a breach of contract suit.
To the public, stories that the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese is accused of breaking agreed-upon obligations to protect children may sound like old news. Some people might think this is badgering by the diocese’s many critics. It is true that too many people seem to take glee from every negative twist and turn in sexual abuse cases involving Roman Catholic priests.
But this is about the safety of children. And the diocese, as the Ratigan case clearly proved, needed to be reminded again where its loyalties — its legal and moral obligations — must stand.
A 2008 settlement of $10 million to 47 victims and their families was intended to put to rest a large number of civil cases against the diocese for sexual abuse claims against priests. The diocese agreed to the settlement under the current Bishop Robert Finn. It also agreed to a list of non-monetary commitments to change its ways and institute more safeguards for children.
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