Kc Priest Sentenced to 50 Years for Child Porn

By Dennis Coday
National Catholic Reporter
September 12, 2013

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/kc-priest-sentenced-50-years-child-porn

Shawn Ratigan, the Kansas City, Mo., priest who had pleaded guilty to possession and production of child pornography last year, was sentenced to 50 years in prison this afternoon, a local TV station and the Associated Press are reporting. It was Ratigan's case the led to KC Bishop Robert Finn's conviction for child endangerment, a misdemeanor in county court.

Ratigan told the federal judge, "I know that no words will express my sorrow" for the hurt he caused people who trusted him and "the church I love" but he said 50 years in prison was too long. He asked for 15 years.

The judge to the recommendation of the federal prosecutor and sentenced the 47-year-old Ratigan to 50 years.