Kansas City Diocese Put Children In Jeopardy According To Report

By Daniel Burke
Religion News Service

(RNS) The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph could have put children in jeopardy when it failed to follow guidelines for reporting clergy sexual abuse, according to a report commissioned by the Missouri-based diocese.

The internal investigation, led by a former U.S. attorney, came after the Rev. Shawn Ratigan was arrested for possessing child
pornography last May.

A Catholic school principal alerted Bishop Robert Finn to child-abuse concerns about Ratigan in May 2010, but diocesan officials
failed to prevent the priest from having contact with children, according to the 141-page report.

Diocesan officials also failed to inform the police, or an independent review board that church guidelines suggest should receive
all accusations to help determine credibility, according to the report.

"Individuals in positions of authority reacted to events in ways that could have jeopardized the safety of children in diocesan parishes, schools, and families," the report states.

The report recommends that any diocesan employee or volunteer who receives information about sexual abuse by clergy inform police and state officials. The independent review board should also be notified of all accusations, the report states.

Finn called the recommendations "comprehensive, thoughtful and detailed."

"We understand their importance and are focusing on them so we establish clear, strong and unequivocal procedures for all diocesan personnel and volunteers that ensure the safety of our children today and into the future," he said.

The nation's Catholic bishops were criticized for not amending their sexual abuse policies at a semiannual meeting in June, even after high-profile cases in Kansas City and Philadelphia raised questions about the policies' effectiveness.

Comments

[Dragosurfer]

01:17 PM on 09/09/2011

Will this horrible child molestation by Catholic leaders ever end? It just keeps going, and going, and going; we see news report after news report, from Germany, Ireland, England, and all 50 states.

Another case (in a long list of Minnesota cases) has just come to light in my home state of Minnesota involving several children and a disgusting case of cover-up by the Catholic leaders.

Maybe if we were to do to these Catholic child molesters what they did to tens of thousands of witches and heretics, they would get the message. Let’s start with the Nazi Pope and his dress-wearing bishops and cardinals.

[downunder237]

02:55 PM on 09/09/2011

The problem the Church has faced (and will continue to face) is the same problem that all organizations that have children in them have.
1. But we never hear about these problems in public schools unless a pretty white female teacher is involved.
2. But we never hear of the countless cases in state foster care systems
3. But we never hear of the countless cases in various sports teams.
4. But we never hear of the countless cases in other religious denominations.
Why? There is no money in suing them. PERIOD.
If every organization is being held to the same standard as the Catholic Church then things might just improve throughout society. But they are not because there is nothing to gain from third parties by doing so.

I already responded about you LIE about the Pope being a Nazi so I will not respond to it again.

[Gay Iberian]

02:58 PM on 09/09/2011

It will never end as long as there are people that believe its false teachings of a non existant god and unproven scriptures. Besides a majority of priests love to molest children, that's why they enter the ministry.

[downunder237]

04:57 PM on 09/09/2011

By saying such sick things you only prove what your side really is.

[Tulipss]

06:00 PM on 09/09/2011

Priests molest children because they are deprived of a normal sexual life so they have to resort to picking an easy target.

[gibraltar]

01:08 PM on 09/09/2011

Rule 1 don't put church in jeopardy Kids not so much!

[Asuigeneris1]

08:32 PM on 09/08/2011

Wow, the dude in that picture looks like a guy that might "indoctrinate" you in prison. O.O

[David MacWilliams]

04:25 PM on 09/08/2011

Things that are sad about this article to me:

1) I wasn't surprised that no diocesan official reported it.

2) I wasn't surprised that the diocese left this predator in contact with children.

3) That there even has to be a "report" and "recommendations" about how to, in the future, handle such incidents when even a child would know that you should tell someone about it.

4) That this continues to happen at the same alarming rates as in the past. This tells me that the catholic church really hasn't learned anything at all despite being embarrassed and sued numerous times. Maybe it's time to realize that the institution itself lacks the ability to control itself and start arresting and prosecuting from the top down since the bishops and cardinals and even the pope himself are well aware that these incidents continue to occur with little or no fear of organizational reprisal. This organization, if not called a "church", would be considered an organized ring of pedophiles and be prosecuted under the RICO act. It has all of the elements of organized crime.

[Ami Toben]

11:47 AM on 09/08/2011

You would not task Neo Nazis with preventing and reporting abuses against Jews. Why task Catholic clergymen with preventing and reporting cases of sexual child abuse?

[downunder237]

01:36 PM on 09/08/2011

What a disgusting comment.

The Church has gone out of its way to streamline the process of dealing with the religious-side of priests and religious who abuse children.

Using your logic, I would say the same thing about a lot of teachers. Guess those teachers unions have no connection in protecting abusers either.

Is that unfair? Yes.

Just like your insipid comment.

[Ami Toben]

02:36 PM on 09/08/2011

My comment was indeed harsh - a harsh comment addressing a harsh subject.
The main point is that an organization that has been shown to contain thousands of documented cases of child rape and torture, and to conceal these cases, should not able allowed to police itself when the well being of so many children is on the line. No one is above the law and an organization that has been shown to be so criminal, up to its highest levels, should not be given any leeway. The fact that this evil organization claims it has divine connections and that it is infallible only emphasizes how hypocritical and criminal it is.

[SimonBao]

01:27 AM on 09/09/2011

While I want nothing to do with the person making Neo Nazi comments, I have to challenge you on your own logic.

There is some evidence that the church has streamlined some processes, yes, and there is ongoing evidence that leaders in the church continue to ignore those processes.

Continue to ignore the rules, the standards, the requirements, the recommendations that have all resulted from these sex scandals.

THAT is the current issue. Not that sex scandals occur. But the those in the church who are supposed to protect kids are protecting sex offenders.

Still. Even now. Despite the publicity, the lawsuits, the promises... still protecting those who prey on minors.

[Gay Iberian]

03:00 PM on 09/09/2011

Why not? What6 are your views with regards to sexually molesting children?

[Weirdo]

09:33 AM on 09/08/2011

I'm so sick of this criminal organization called the Catholic church. And, if you're still placing your kids into the clutches of this pedophile-protecting cult, YOU ought to be investigated by the authorities as well.

[downunder237]

01:32 PM on 09/08/2011

And I am sick of Catholic bigots like you who link all priests and religious to perverts (and if you can’t do that say they themselves are secret perverts) and/or link the whole hierarchy of the Church to some grand conspiracy.

[Weirdo]

03:21 PM on 09/08/2011

I don't think all priests are involved in this. It is without question, though, that the Catholic church enabled and hid child molesters in its ranks, and is likely still doing it. This filthy organization cares more about its continued existence than the health and safety of children. Disgusting. And people like you continue to provide them support, in your apologies and continued attendance. Because of that, your hands are stained as well. Disgusting.

[Dragosurfer]

01:40 PM on 09/09/2011

It has been proven to be exactly that, a grand conspiracy involving thousands of Catholic leaders around the world.

Try reading someting besides that out-dated, myth and superstition based collection of primitive writings called the Bible, and you might just learn something useful.

[downunder237]

09:11 AM on 09/08/2011

The current Bishop has done everything by the book.

And for anyone to say otherwise in a downright lie.

What certain people are doing, is tearing down His Excellency because they do not like his politics. What they really loathe is the fact that he gave the people the Tridentine Mass. What certain people loathe is an actual Catholic bishop. It terrifies them.

[Weirdo]

09:38 AM on 09/08/2011

Oh, God. The Tridentine Mass. What an offense and horror. Pederasty, on the other hand, why that just sounds like good old fashioned Catholic fun.

[downunder237]

02:26 PM on 09/08/2011

Part 1:

To alot of liberal Catholics the Tridentine Mass is just that.

Part 2:

What if I was to say:
“Pederasty. Good old fashioned homosexual perversion.
Now these "sick people" can marry in New York.”

I can be just as crude and illogical as you.

But I recognize my statement as crude and disgusting.

People like you do not.

That is why your comments are cheap and disgusting.

[mrkurtzhedead]

09:41 AM on 09/08/2011

When will you Catholic apologists stop defending these monsters?

[downunder237]

12:51 PM on 09/08/2011

I will be glad to do so when you Catholic bigots stop applying the evil actions of a small number of priests to all priests.

I will be glad to so when you Catholic bigots stop creating conspiracy theories that have the Holy Father linked to every crime that has ever occurred in the modern church.

[downunder237]

02:27 PM on 09/08/2011

When will you Catholics bigots stop blaming the entire Church hierarchy for crimes of a very small number of priests?

[mrkurtzhedead]

08:38 AM on 09/08/2011

This is what happens when the Vatican issues instructions --in 1962 with a later follow up memo, issued by Ratzinger himself when he headed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (nee the Inquisition) -- that anyone reporting the child rape and torture by priests to the police will be excommunicated.

[downunder237]

09:18 AM on 09/08/2011

That is wrong.

If the bishops had actually followed Vatican protocol from the 1960s, these priests would have been removed from active ministry. They chose to listen to secular voices about sexual disorders. That is their fault, not the Vatican.

You can show no such document because it doesn’t exist. You throw around words like Inquisition to distract from the fact that you just made-something-up.

Then Cardinal Ratzinger never issued such a statement.

[mrkurtzhedead]

09:39 AM on 09/08/2011

Read it and weep an STOP your lying to protect these monsters.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/aug/17/religion.childprotection

[charlesrfd2003]

07:11 AM on 09/08/2011

The problem in Kansas City is where are the laity on this issue? Why have the laity not revolted by refusing to donate, by taking over the cathedral (peacefully), by holding independent prayer and/or Mass services, or many other peaceful methods.

Catholic doctrine says a bishop and pastor must be accepted by the people to hold office. Well Kansas City people do you accept Finn as your bishop? If you are silent, you just said yes that Finn is acceptable.

Catholics get some backbone!! Don't replay what took place in the 1990's in your city. Kick this jerk out now.

[mrkurtzhedead]

10:04 AM on 09/08/2011

I think they are leaving in droves.

[umbriago]

01:46 PM on 09/08/2011

I forget.....how many people are in a drove?

[juna]

01:41 AM on 09/08/2011

Read the new Rolling Stone article about Catholic child abuse.

[David Weidner]

10:20 PM on 09/07/2011

This cannot be true. Ignoring child abuse within the church? Hogwash. (sarcasm)

[Gay Iberian]

03:05 PM on 09/09/2011

You're right! As if we didn't know already! What's real news, and horrible at that, is that nothing is being done about it!

[kamana2]

09:29 PM on 09/07/2011

Just a tiny tip of a hugh iceberg. No one will ever know how many catholic saints, popes, cardinals, bishops and priests were pedophiliac rapists and murderers.

[sweetlilthing]

08:08 PM on 09/07/2011

The Church is a haven for pedophiles, the huge number of abused children molested by priests confirms that. It's clear to all that the Vatican is more concerned with losing MONEY in lawsuits.  No other country could get away with this without sanctions. Catholic Church is corrupt beyond Salvation and it's clear it's "good ole boys" mentality won't change.

[downunder237]

07:31 PM on 09/09/2011

Sanctions?

What about the good old United States of America? Its hands are not exactly clean are they?

The Vatican should be worried about money. Becasuse that is what all this comes down to for the trial lawyers.

[sweetlilthing]

05:32 AM on 09/11/2011

Why not sanctions? The Vatican is it's own Country.

[erehwon man]

07:38 PM on 09/07/2011

Same old story. The guy is reported to the bishop, bishop does nothing. Big meeting of
bishops does nothing. It's always the same. What eludes me is why do people bother to
support this corrupt corporate entity? Are they so afraid of "going to hell" that they no
longer can see the forest for the trees?

If this "priest" is collecting child pornography then it would seem he's not focusing on
what his job should be. But then much of the church's teaching of children is already
borderline child abuse-----from circumcision to threats of hell. But covering up criminal
activities against the easiest of victims and then expecting the faithful to not ask
questions, just trust, is way too much.

Yet it goes on and on and on. This church has lost all credibility because of this issue
but it should never have gotten this far. When people in the far distant future come to
their senses and realize that this institution was built on myths and fear, then maybe
the whole enterprise will finally collapse. It is a fraud from start to finish.

[garybob]

03:24 PM on 09/08/2011

You realize the Church does not promote circumcision? In fact, if circumcision is done in the form a religious ritual, it is considered a sin. Don't worry, no one expects you to be competent about things settled 2000 years ago. One of the many reasons no one would take posts like yours seriously.

[erehwon man]

07:25 AM on 09/09/2011

Ok I stand corrected on circumcision. I suppose from your tone you still have no problem with the ongoing coverup of crimes against children. You remain
silent on the real issues here.

I still maintain the church is a morally bankrupt because it protected those
who committed the worst possible sort of crimes.

Read the reports of the Irish government, if you have the stomach for it, on
the abuses of the church there. Focus on the real issue that are pertinent
now. And I doubt they were "settled" 2000 years ago.

[methnkng]

07:33 PM on 09/07/2011

It is all just blah.. blah.. blah.. The Catholic Church obviously has no interest in protecting children from its pedophiles. This happened in 2010, after all the uproar over years of covering up crimes committed by priests. The church is still covering it up.