Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity

rug

(82,333 posts) Fri Sep 7, 2012, 07:11 PM Sep 2012

What’s next for Robert Finn, the first Catholic bishop convicted in sex abuse cover-up

By David Gibson | Religion News Service
Updated: Friday, September 7, 4:31 PM

Catholic Bishop Robert W. Finn was found guilty Thursday (Sept. 6) of failing to tell police about a priest suspected of sexually exploiting children, an unprecedented verdict that is being hailed as a landmark in the effort to bring accountability to the church’s hierarchy.

Finn, leader of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and an outspoken conservative in the American hierarchy, was convicted of a single misdemeanor count for not telling police that one of his priests, the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, had taken hundreds of lewd images of children in Catholic schools and parishes.

But even as he became the first U.S. bishop ever convicted in criminal court for shielding an abusive priest, Finn’s standing inside the church appears uncertain, and the subject of intense debate.

Should he stay or should he go? Finn has indicated that he wants to tough it out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/whats-next-for-robert-finn-the-first-catholic-bishop-convicted-in-sex-abuse-cover-up/2012/09/07/e0486eb6-f92a-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html

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What’s next for Robert Finn, the first Catholic bishop convicted in sex abuse cover-up (Original Post) rug Sep 2012 OP

The only American Catholic bishop convicted of a felony Fortinbras Armstrong Sep 2012 #1

Bishop Finn was convicted of a misdemeanor--unfortunately meow2u3 Sep 2012 #2

Go. DPC.Comment Sep 2012 #3

Fortinbras Armstrong

(4,473 posts)

1. The only American Catholic bishop convicted of a felony

Reply to rug (Original post)

Sat Sep 8, 2012, 11:03 AM

Sep 2012

Was Thomas O'Brien, former Bishop of Phoenix, Arizona. He was convicted of hit-and-run when his car hit a man named Jim Reed, killing him, and the bishop sped off.

Interestingly enough, another driver also hit Reed, but was not even given a ticket, since several witnesses said that Reed had darted into fairly heavy traffic and hitting him was unavoidable. So if Bishop O'Brien had stayed, he would not have been convicted of anything.

O'Brien's resignation was accepted by the Pope four days after his arrest.

meow2u3

(24,761 posts)

2. Bishop Finn was convicted of a misdemeanor--unfortunately

Reply to rug (Original post)

Sat Sep 8, 2012, 11:34 AM

Sep 2012

He was convicted of failing to report child abuse. He should have been convicted of misprision, which means he actively concealed the crimes committed by Fr. Ratigan, by shuffling him off from one parish to another.

Finn lost all credibility as a clergyman, a prelate, and a spiritual example. If the Pope doesn't dismiss him, His Holiness is guilty of corruption, if not in a court of law, in the court of public opinion--and in the court of the faithful.

DPC.Comment

(42 posts)

3. Go.

Reply to rug (Original post)

Sun Sep 9, 2012, 07:31 PM

Sep 2012

If he has any decency, he'll go.

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