Vatican Defrocks A Bishop Over Sexual Abuse - But Not Finn.
As the National Catholic Reporter described recent events:
The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has ordered the laicization of an archbishop-ambassador accused of paying for sex with minors. But while Francis has acted on Wesołowski, he has yet to remove Robert Finn. Let's recall that the crimes of Bishop Finn resulted from his knowledge of the related crimes of a priest in his diocese who pleaded guilty in Federal Court to four counts of producing child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography. As I reported here and here, Bishop Finn had constructive knowledge of that priest's improper touching of young girls and possession of child pornography. Finn knew or had good reason to suspect the priest`s crimes. Had he acted, he would have prevented other crimes against children under his pastoral care. Indeed, in September 2012 Bishop Finn became the first American prelate convicted of failing to report a pedophile priest. It is worth recalling that the beneficiary of the cover-up was Fr. Shawn Ratigan who was prosecuted and pleaded of his crimes in Federal Court. As I wrote here that Bishop Finn must go. In March of this year I reported that a growing number Kansas City Catholics want Bishop Finn gone. Pope Francis recently met with of victims Catholic clerical sex abuse. He used the occasion to publicly call for stricter, more decisive actions against Catholic clerics who either engage pedophilia or fail by negligence to prevent it. The Times reported:
In his homily, Francis also vowed "not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not," and declared that bishops would be held accountable for protecting minors. He said the abuse scandals had had "a toxic effect on faith and hope in God." As a progressive Catholic I truly want Francis to succeed. Catholicism is wanting for the kind of reforms he seems to be all about. People recognize that he seems to be the breath of fresh air the Vatican so desperately needs. But with that said, in certain areas Francis is beginning to face a credibility problem. Soothing words are not enough. Credibility, especially with regards to the pedophilia issue, requires decisive action. And decisive action requires punishing negligent as well as abusive bishops.
And the perfect place to demonstrate decisive action is in Kansas City.
Vatican Defrocks A Bishop Over Sexual Abuse - But Not Finn. | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
Vatican Defrocks A Bishop Over Sexual Abuse - But Not Finn. | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
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