by Joshua J. McElwee
See the updated Story here: KC bishop charged with failure to report child abuse
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Bishop Robert Finn of the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese has been charged with failure to report suspected child abuse. The charges, filed in Jackson County, Mo., court were released today.
Bishop Finn appeared in court today and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge.
A statement from the diocese said that "Bishop Finn denies any criminal wrong doing."
He faces up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The charges stem of the case of a local priest who has been charged for possession of child pornography. Images of naked children were found on the computer of Fr. Shawn Ratigan in December last year. The Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese learned about the images and removed Ratigan from his parish, but did not report the incident to authorities until May.
This is a developing story. More to come.
