Pope Francis accepts resignation of Bishop Robert W. Finn [CNA]

[weller2]

That’s really why all of this happened. Liberals in KC have been gunning for him from the beginning, and they’re very powerful people.

Yes, it’s always those pesky liberals. If it wasn’t for them, the predator priests would have continued to rape children to this day. Read The Faithful Departed: in Boston, a single liberal newspaper spoiled it for everyone!

But Bp Finn relied on a cop’s evaluation of the criminality of what the cop (not Bp Finn) saw

Except that the cop wasn’t shown anything. He was given a verbal description of the stuff over the phone. I can give you a verbal description of an issue of Hustler which will come across like I was describing The Economist.

and did what many and many a bishop has done; sought a “cure” that we now know doesn’t exist,

Which year it is? That the “cure” doesn’t exist has been known since the original abuse scandal exploded in, what, 2000?

then reported it further. He did have the advice of the diocesan counsel in all of it. But he also had a rabidly liberal prosecutor and newspaper to contend with as well as the liberal Catholics whose domination of the diocese he had reversed.

Oh come on. Did Fr. Ratigan have the stuff on his laptop? Yes. Was Bp. Finn supposed to report it via official channels? Yes. Did he? No. It’s an open and shut case.

And, I cannot stomach the claims that the Church is persecuted by liberal DAs. If you look at how the cases were handled, the law enforcement is surprisingly lenient. Out-of-court settlements, based on promise to report future abusers? No conspiracy charges? Really? If the state pursued clerical pedophilia with the same zeal it pursues drug crimes, then the bishop would have woken up looking at the business end of an AR-15, while the rest of the SWAT team was loading diocesan files on the truck. In drug cases, people have gotten long sentences not because they were involved, but basically because they simply knew the dealer. Here, a failure to report a crime despite being legally mandated to do so earned Bp. Finn a one-year suspended sentence, and you are complaining about unfair treatment.

 

[CorinneV]

It is sad that Bishop Finn needed to resign, but also sad that he mishandled the criminal activity of Ratigan so poorly. I have read court documents, including Bishop Finn’s plea agreement, in which he admits that he turned a blind eye to information about Ratigan that should have set off an alarm in the bishop’s heart.

I think that the bishop treated Ratigan as a spiritually troubled priest, when in fact Ratigan is a criminal who used the goodness of the priesthood as a cover so he could abuse children. Yes, taking a pornographic photo of a child IS child abuse. If someone took a pornographic picture of YOU without your consent, you would feel abused, wouldn’t you?

I am glad that the Holy Father has finally taken action in this case. I question why the American bishops have been passive in allowing Bishop Finn to continue to serve as bishop of Kansas City. In most dioceses in the US, Bishop Finn’s conviction would have barred a layman with such a criminal record from volunteering in any position that put him in contact with, or in responsibility for the safety of children.

How can you have any sympathy for Ratigan? He is a pervert and a monster. He took lewd photos of a TWO YEAR OLD child, as was proven in a lawsuit against the Diocese
. nydailynews.com/news/crime/deal-reached-catholic-lawsuit-child-porn-attorney-article-1.1345147

It is horrible that Bishop Finn was faced with such an evil selfish man in the guise of a priest, but it is sad that he failed to fulfill his duty.

The Holy Father did the right thing.

 

[pnewton]

Like it or not: Bishop Finn was convicted of a crime (albeit a misdemeanor) in his handling of this issue…In all it really doesn’t matter, because he was convicted and this had to happen as a consequence or the Church would lose even more credibility. That it took this long …well, it was a matter of time…

This is my understanding. I applaud Bishop Finn for taking this stance for the good of the Church. That being said, I have to note since I have been a Catholic, and here at CAF, the instances of scandal have become both rare, and much more petty.

 

[robertmidwest]

So what happens to the ex-bishop now?

He is still a bishop I think? He just doesn’t have an assignment right now. My guess is he will be asked to teach somewhere.

 

[7_Sorrows]

He is still a bishop I think? He just doesn’t have an assignment right now. My guess is he will be asked to teach somewhere.

Okay. Thank you.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

It is very unfortunate that this public scandal has dragged on for so many years. The Church often seems to operate at a glacial speed. Bishop Finn should have resigned after his actions, and lack of action, came to light in 2011 and he was indicted.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, it’s always those pesky liberals. If it wasn’t for them, the predator priests would have continued to rape children to this day. Read The Faithful Departed: in Boston, a single liberal newspaper spoiled it for everyone!

Except that the cop wasn’t shown anything. He was given a verbal description of the stuff over the phone. I can give you a verbal description of an issue of Hustler which will come across like I was describing The Economist.

Which year it is? That the “cure” doesn’t exist has been known since the original abuse scandal exploded in, what, 2000?

Oh come on. Did Fr. Ratigan have the stuff on his laptop? Yes. Was Bp. Finn supposed to report it via official channels? Yes. Did he? No. It’s an open and shut case.

And, I cannot stomach the claims that the Church is persecuted by liberal DAs. If you look at how the cases were handled, the law enforcement is surprisingly lenient. Out-of-court settlements, based on promise to report future abusers? No conspiracy charges? Really? If the state pursued clerical pedophilia with the same zeal it pursues drug crimes, then the bishop would have woken up looking at the business end of an AR-15, while the rest of the SWAT team was loading diocesan files on the truck. In drug cases, people have gotten long sentences not because they were involved, but basically because they simply knew the dealer. Here, a failure to report a crime despite being legally mandated to do so earned Bp. Finn a one-year suspended sentence, and you are complaining about unfair treatment.

My, what big teeth you have, grandma! Why did you not propose cooking Bp. Finn alive?

Here’s what the prosecutor of neighboring Clay County and other lawyers said about Bp Finn’s “guilt” which you wish to consider foregone.

"A county prosecutor’s agreement with Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., is a sign of the weakness of the charge that the bishop illegally failed to report suspected child sex abuse, a Missouri lawyer says.

The prosecutor of Clay County, Mo., is “reluctant” to follow the lead of the prosecutor in Jackson County because “he wasn’t going to have a successful prosecution,” St. Louis attorney Michael Quinlan suggested.

“The prosecution is avoiding a risky trial, and the bishop is avoiding what would be a less risky trial, but certainly a tremendous expense and bad publicity and all the terrible things that go along with that,” said Quinlan, who is not involved in the case.

“I would have thought that this would suggest to the prosecuting authorities in Jackson County that they might step back from the brink, but I don’t know whether it will have that effect or not.”

In Quinlan’s view, the possibility of a conviction is “slim” and the relevant statute “simply does not apply to the circumstance.”

Read more: ncregister.com/daily-news/bishop-finn#ixzz3Y2gqMvR9

Diocesan “treatment” programs for clergy were set up long ago in the heyday of “psych can do anything” views of things like this. In addition to expecting him to be an FBI agent, did you expect Bp Finn to also be a psychiatrist? Did you expect him to sell every church building in KC to pay for a defense and match the taxpayer resources of the State?

It is difficult to even describe the hostility the “liberal establishment” in the diocese had toward Finn, and from the very beginning. It was immediate and total. It was only a matter of time before they would come up with a way to cut the ground from under his feet. I know some of them personally, and they have a lot of power. Call it anecdotal if you want, but the truth is the truth. Shortly after he started reforming the diocese, I knew he would eventually be undone. The left does not brook dissent for long.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It isn’t just my take. This from a Benedictine prioress in the region:

“It breaks my heart that so many people only know about him what they hear from the blaring voices of the media and news outlets which have carried a prejudice against him from the beginning,” Mother Cecilia said. “Our community was shown the tenderness of Holy Mother Church through Bishop Finn.”

Since assuming leadership in 2005, Bishop Finn has taken steps to refocus the diocese’s direction, including changes to staff and programs, and ensuring the diocesan newspaper operates faithfully. These changes have angered liberal Catholics opposed to the Church’s orthodoxy.

“Ten years ago, Bishop Finn was thrown into the midst of a diocese known far and wide for being a hotbed of heterodoxy and dissent,” Mother Cecilia said. “He made necessary and important changes right from the start, and those who were displeased have never forgotten nor forgiven.”

Mother Cecilia has heard many stories from the pre-Finn days, the most poignant being one in which a Kansas City woman described her horror when during his homily, a priest smashed the high altar with a hammer.

“Amidst energies, money and agendas that are directed toward secular and even sinful ‘progress,’ there is a striking lack of sympathy for the spiritual suffering that countless Catholics had been enduring for the previous two generations, where everything they held sacred was torn to pieces before their eyes,” she said.

“These spiritually disenfranchised souls had no voice, no media outlets, no financial resources, no advocate. But they prayed. And Bishop Finn was the answer to their prayers.”

During his time in the diocese, Bishop Finn has fostered explosive growth in vocations to the priesthood and diaconate, opened the cause for canonization of a religious sister, and overseen the building of two new churches, all of which is passed over in media coverage in favor of critics calling for his removal.

“Our Bishop has endured and suffered so much throughout these years,” said Mother Cecilia. She explained that shortly after his arrival, one local paper distributed a scathing eight-page issue dedicated exclusively to biasing the faithful against their new shepherd, placing it in numerous churches throughout the diocese.

“I continue to be amazed and inspired by his humility, charity, and patient resignation amidst so many relentless attacks,” said Mother Cecilia.

Bishop Finn clearly understands the Church’s primary role is to sanctify her individual members, she said, likely the reason he’s drawn the ire of Church foes."

The secular left is totalitarian in its very nature, and ultra-liberal Catholics are no exception to that. They are totalitarian because they wish to impose an environment that runs counter to human nature. That requires power and force.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The Jackson County prosecutor is a major recipient of campaign funds from NARAL, and is a pro-abortion politician. She “blamed” the grand jury for the indictment against Bp Finn when anybody who knows anything knows a grand jury almost always follows the recommendations of the prosecutor. It is no coincidence that the prosecutor declines to follow up any allegations of cover ups by Planned Parenthood in hiding rapes and child sexual abuse in its pursuit of the abortion dollar.

Nor does the “Kansas City Times” newspaper, a very liberal publication, report on Planned Parenthood or even public school sexual abuse. But it published condemnations of Finn incessantly.

The left is totalitarian in root and branch and will not tolerate a competing ideology like faithful Catholicism.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Correction: “Kansas City Star”

 

[robertmidwest]

In Quinlan’s view, the possibility of a conviction is “slim” and the relevant statute “simply does not apply to the circumstance.”

Apparently not. He had a bench trial in Jackson County and was convicted.

 

[christofirst]

Honestly, reading the differing opinions here, I almost think there were two different Bishop Finns. In some ways, I can appreciate both points of view. Anyway, I’m praying for him where ever he goes next, and I’m praying for the people of his former diocese, and for everyone involved in the crime that led to this, and for the next bishop, too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Apparently not. He had a bench trial in Jackson County and was convicted.

My understanding is that it was part of the “deal” that he would take a “judgment on the record”, in which the judge looks at the allegations and evidence as the prosecutor presents it, the defendant does not defend, and the judge enters a finding of guilty. It’s similar to entering an “Alford plea”. The end result is a foregone conclusion.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Honestly, reading the differing opinions here, I almost think there were two different Bishop Finns. In some ways, I can appreciate both points of view. Anyway, I’m praying for him where ever he goes next, and I’m praying for the people of his former diocese, and for everyone involved in the crime that led to this, and for the next bishop, too.

Of course there are “two Bishop Finns”. One was the bishop who is a bishop, and he was good at that. The other is the investigator/prosecutor Finn. The second was a poor investigator and prosecutor who, because of that, gradually became a professional defendant.

 

[ringil]

There is truth to this. SNAP is a pack of treasure-hunting charlatans, and the presence of the National Catholic Distorter is also a liability. But the fact that Ratigan had lewd pictures of children on his computer, and Finn knew about it and shunted him off to therapy instead of calling the cops is still enough of a scandal.

Whether Ratigan was technically a pedophile is splitting hairs. The point is that he was committing heinous crimes against God, His children, and the law of the land, and Finn didn’t do what he should have done. We can’t always be shifting the blame to SNAP, the media, or the liberals who lick their chops at such disasters. We as Catholic laypeople need to hold our clergy accountable.

You pretty much nailed it. Great and thorough post.

 

[robertmidwest]

This is the “independent” investigation into to case:

diocese-kcsj.org/_docs/8-31-11_Report_of_Independent_Investigation.pdf

Take into consideration this was paid for by the diocese.

 

[JimG]

Foes of Bishop Finn Rejoice

 

[weller2]

"A county prosecutor’s agreement with Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., is a sign of the weakness of the charge that the bishop illegally failed to report suspected child sex abuse, a Missouri lawyer says.

Then why Bp Finn took the deal if the state had no case? Here’s a shocking concept: what if the DA had evidence, but decided to play it this way to avoid social unrest? That’s the pattern you see everywhere in these cases: bishops are being let off the hook with settlements in situations which would earn Joe Sixpack a conspiracy charge.

Think about it, then think what will happen once the state stops accommodating the Church.

Diocesan “treatment” programs for clergy were set up long ago in the heyday of “psych can do anything” views of things like this.

Again, which year it is? How come that you even have “treatment” programs after the John Jay report?

In addition to expecting him to be an FBI agent, did you expect Bp Finn to also be a psychiatrist?

Apparently Bp Finn has decided that he is a psychiatrist, because he deemed himself
to be competent in deciding what is, and what is not child porn, instead of referring the case to proper authorities right away.

I expect Bp Finn to – wait for it – obey the law. No, I realize that it may be a shocking concept to some, but a Catholic bishop is not above the law. If the law says that you must report suspected pedophiles, then you report suspected pedophiles. As simple as that.

It is difficult to even describe the hostility the “liberal establishment” in the diocese

Again, was there a SWAT raid? Conspiracy charge? No? Then the bishop was treated better than an average citizen. You have no factual case to claim persecution.

Call it anecdotal if you want, but the truth is the truth. Shortly after he started reforming the diocese, I knew he would eventually be undone. The left does not brook dissent for long.

Are you suggesting that it was the Left who planted Ratigan to take down the bishop?

It isn’t just my take. This from a Benedictine prioress in the region:

What is that, Chewbacca defense? None of this has any relevance to the case.

 

[robertmidwest]

From the Bill Donahue article

we thank him for cleaning up the mess he inherited

From Mother Cecilia

diocese known far and wide for being a hotbed of heterodoxy and dissent

Somebody please explain to me what the mess that he cleaned up was. Please actually cite some examples and sources.

I am 46 years olds and lived here my entire life. I can’t ever remember Cowtown Kansas City being a hotbed of liberalism for ANYTHING.

 

[JackVk]

From the Bill Donahue article

From Mother Cecilia

Somebody please explain to me what the mess that he cleaned up was. Please actually cite some examples and sources.

I am 46 years olds and lived here my entire life. I can’t ever remember Cowtown Kansas City being a hotbed of liberalism for ANYTHING.

The Catholic League article mentioned a priest who smashed the high altar with a hammer. That’s pretty much all I could see.

I’ve lived here for 20 of 23 years of my life and have been actively Catholic for the last five. Before the whole Ratigan shivstorm I never really noticed the KCMO diocese since I’m on the Kansas side. There’s only one parish over here that is rumored to be iffy. The rest appear to be pretty faithful. Kansas is one of the reddest states in the country.

I can’t speak for Missouri, though.