GUILTY MO - Father Shawn Ratigan for child *advertiser censored*, Kansas City, 2011

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Under the radar....smart man.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/17/2958462/before-furor-ratigan-raised-few.html

Before furor, Ratigan raised few red flags
June 17, 2011

"...Until a school principal sent a letter to diocesan authorities last year, raising questions about Ratigan’s conduct around children, no obvious red flags existed in his background. With a clean criminal record, Shawn Francis Ratigan appeared to be an exciting, motorcycle-loving priest with a heart for missions and service...."

more at link (an in-depth article plus a growing number of comments)
 
This thing with the catholic church is clearly never going to end. They need to be shut down permanently.
 
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/22/2968777/diocese-replaces-vicar-in-charge.html

KC diocese replaces vicar in charge of sex-abuse cases
June 22, 2011

"The vicar general for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph no longer will oversee sexual-abuse allegations against priests, the diocese announced Wednesday. Monsignor Robert Murphy, who has come under fire for his handling of a priest recently charged with possessing child *advertiser censored*, will be replaced in that role, according to the diocese. The Rev. Joseph Powers has been named the vicar for clergy, a new position...."

and

"....On June 9, The Star reported that Murphy himself had been accused of past sexual improprieties. A Kansas City psychologist wrote [Bishop, Robert] Finn four years ago, alleging sexual harassment by Murphy in 1984. Finn had said the allegations were unfounded. Murphy also has been prominent in the case of the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who was charged last month with three counts of possessing child *advertiser censored*..."

and

"....A victims’ advocacy group said the diocese’s actions Wednesday would have little effect. “Coverups of clergy sex crimes run deep in this diocese, so changing job titles for one or two clerics isn’t going to change much,” said Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests...."

More at link (detailed article)
 
On the same day that the diocese announced the replacement of the vicar, this story broke. Note the emphasis of this headline too. It's sure not on the victims.

So, parents and even the nuns didn't know why Ratigan was sent away. Kids, possibly even victims, were told to send Father Ratigan "get well" cards. Yikes. He was sick all right!!

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/more-problems-for-the-local-catholic-diocese

More problems for the local Catholic diocese
July 6, 2011


"More problems arise for the local Catholic diocese. Police say they're uncovered new evidence against Father Shawn Ratigan, who is already charged with possessing child *advertiser censored*. Police say they've uncovered more images of a child on another computer used by Ratigan. The attorney representing as many as 10 victims' families said it's no big surprise...."

and

"...Kansas City police say they've discovered new images on a guest computer at a convent, Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist and the adjoining Vincentian parish in Independence. [Attorney, Rebecca] Randles said it's the place the priest was quietly sent to by the diocese. There, among nuns, Ratigan was instructed to stay away from children and not have access to computers or cameras. But Randles said that's not what happened. Randles said, "They have retreats for children and dinners for children. It's not a place where there are no children...."

and

"...She said the parents -- perhaps even the nuns -- didn't really know why he was relocated there. In fact, Randles said schools encouraged children to write the priest "get well" cards after the diocese told them Father Ratigan had been relocated after a motorcycle accident. She said the diocese said the priest "was ill"...."

more at link (plus video)
 
Hmmm....Ratigan is in the same county jail, Clay County, as Burrell Mohler Sr. Maybe they can compare notes. And discuss theology.
 
Federal indictment for Father Ratigan. It's about time.




http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/195...ld-*advertiser censored*-charges-indicted.htm
 
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/18/3085410/federal-prosecutors-want-life.html

Federal prosecutors want life sentence for priest in child *advertiser censored* case
August 18, 2011

"A Catholic priest accused of producing child *advertiser censored* should receive life in prison if convicted, federal prosecutors declared Thursday. Prosecutors disclosed their sentencing goals in a motion asking that the Rev. Shawn Ratigan remain in jail pending trial. They filed the paperwork just minutes before Ratigan’s first federal court appearance on 13 counts of production, attempted production and possession of child *advertiser censored*...."

and

"...The court filings also disclosed new information about how leaders of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph responded when they learned that troubling photographs had been discovered on Ratigan’s computer. The priest had given that computer to a technician for repair in December. Ratigan allegedly lied to his supervisors when they asked if he had taken the pictures, court records said. In addition to various “upskirt” and “crotch” photographs, the supervisors asked Ratigan about a “close-up vaginal” photograph found on his computer, court records said. Other court records have described that picture as a girl lying down with her panties pulled aside.

Church officials have not described their initial discussions with Ratigan about the photographs, but have suggested that they weren’t certain that the pictures constituted child *advertiser censored*...."

more at link


They weren't certain that this was child *advertiser censored*? I could have told them. Even easier, a simple call to the local police would have given them the short answer to that question.
 
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/01/3115771/report-faults-diocese-in-ratigan.html

Report faults Catholic diocese in Ratigan investigation
September 1, 2011

"For months after finding troubling images on a computer, the Catholic diocese tried on its own to deal with Father Shawn Ratigan. As a result, a report released Thursday said, the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph went off track, bungling its own investigation and failing to even follow its own policies.

An investigation by a former federal prosecutor found that “individuals in positions of authority reacted to events in ways that could have jeopardized the safety of children in diocesan parishes, schools and families....”

more at link

"Could have jeopardized" the safety of children? I'm fairly certain the handling of this case DID jeopardize the safety of children.
 
And can you argue with "mandated to be reported" and "wasn't reported"?

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/16/3147922/bishop-testifies-before-grand.html

Bishop testifies before grand jury on how diocese handled child sexual abuse
September 16, 2011

"Bishop Robert Finn testified Friday before a Jackson County grand jury, dramatically raising the profile of an investigation focused on how the Catholic diocese handled child sexual abuse issues. Finn, who leads the 134,000-member Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, is the highest church official to appear before the grand jury. The panel has been meeting periodically over the last month, since federal authorities leveled child *advertiser censored* charges against the Rev. Shawn Ratigan. With Finn’s appearance, at least five top diocesan administrators or advisers have appeared before the panel.

A recent internal investigation showed that church officials knew for five months about troubling photos of young girls on Ratigan’s computer and did not formally notify police or state child abuse authorities. Under Missouri law, clergy must report any suspected child abuse...."

more at link (in depth article, for those following the case)
 
I'm surprised the Innocence Project hasn't became involved in this.
 
Or there's always the National Center for Reason and Justice--for those "falsely accused and wrongly convicted". They's sponsored other priests. The photos do make that a bit "sticky", though.

However there could be a conspiracy with a disgruntled parishioner planting them. Could be. Do I sounded jaded? I apologize.
 
I'm extremely pleased with this development. Which is it? He acknowledged that he didn't go to police but he denies any wrong doing. Isn't that wrong?

A few more details:

http://news.yahoo.com/kc-bishop-charged-not-bringing-*advertiser censored*-police-185423369.html

KC Bishop charged for not bringing *advertiser censored* to police
October 14, 2011

"....[Bishop Robert] Finn has acknowledged that he and other diocese officials knew for five months about hundreds of "disturbing" images of children that were discovered on a computer used by the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, but did not take the matter to police. In a statement issued through the diocese, Finn denied any wrongdoing and said he had begun work to overhaul the diocese's reporting policies and act on the key findings of a diocese-commissioned investigation into its handling of Ratigan's case.

"Today, the Jackson County Prosecutor issued these charges against me personally and against the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph," said Finn, who officials said was not under arrest. "For our part, we will meet these announcements with a steady resolve and a vigorous defense....."

and

"....Finn acknowledged earlier this year that St. Patrick's School Principal Julie Hess had more than a year ago raised concerns that Ratigan was behaving inappropriately around children, but that he didn't read her written report until after Ratigan was charged with three state child *advertiser censored* counts this spring...."

more at link
 
Yeah, I didn't quite get that either Missizzy. I also rolled my eyes that they will use a "vigorous defense." I really can't wait to see how this all plays out and how it will impact situations like this across the country. Something absolutely must be done about all of the sexual misconduct going on in the church and I really hope the charges that were brought today will start that process.
 
Here's the online Kansas City Star's article:

Bishop Finn, diocese, indicted
---
The charges, announced at a news conference today, make Finn — leader of the 134,000-member diocese — the highest-ranking Catholic official in the nation to face criminal prosecution in a child sexual abuse case.
---
Click to expand...
much more at link above
 
so much of this......what an unholy mess.
 
And it is not only in the Catholic church. The Susan Brock case in Arizona was a travesty. She AND her daughter abused the same teen boy and the Mormon Bishops knew of the abuse. It was never reported. LE was not pleased when charges were not brought against the Bishops as they clearly broke the law.

Also, there's the huge case of the Mohler men in MO. The mother of the children abused in that case disclosed to her Mormon Bishop more than once, I believe. The Bishop never reported and the abuse continued.

Along with holding the clergy responsible, we have to get out the word to church members. Don't trust that your pastor or Bishop will report. CALL THE POLICE!!!
 
Rev. Shawn Ratigan is sentenced to 50 years in federal prison and is not happy about it.

http://www.presstelegram.com/genera...-50-years-in-child-*advertiser censored*-case
 
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