A timeline of the events in the prosecution of Bishop Robert Finn in the Kansas City, Mo., diocese.
Created by ncronline on Jul 11, 2012
Last updated: 09/11/12 at 11:47 AM
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Due to Bishop Robert Finn's inability to pass a background check necessary to work with young people in the Catholic church and his absence from the day-to-day life of the diocese for almost a year, people find that Finn should either resign or be removed from his role as bishop.
http://ncronline.org/node/32143
Bishop Robert Finn was found guilty on Thursday, September 6, 2012 on one misdemeanor count of failing to report suspected child abuse.
Jackson County, Mo., Circuit Court Judge John Torrence gave Finn a two-year suspended sentence of probation with nine conditions, including mandating direct reporting of future suspicions of child abuse to prosecutors.
http://ncronline.org/node/32083
Bishop Robert Finn and his Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese will not go in front of a jury, rather they face judgement from a local judge.
http://ncronline.org/node/32064
A diocesan employee in a deposition said Bishop Finn told her "boys will be boys" when she asked him about pornography on Fr. Shawn Ratigan's computer.
http://ncronline.org/node/32020
On June 28, 2012 Bishop Robert Finn and his Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese was ordered to grant prosecutors access to a range of files regarding the case of diocesan priest Fr. Shawn Ratigan, who was arrested last year for possession of child pornography.
http://ncronline.org/node/31064
Bishop Robert Finn announced creation of a new episcopal vicar with "decision-making" power over the diocese's own legal options on May 25, 2012.
http://ncronline.org/node/30530
Bishop Robert W. Finn escaped a second criminal indictment for failing to report suspected child abuse by agreeing to give a county prosecutor near-total oversight of the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese’s handling of sex abuse cases for the next five years.
http://ncronline.org/node/27605
On October 14, 2011 Bishop Robert Finn and the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese have been charged with failure to report suspected child abuse in Jackson County, Mo.
http://ncronline.org/node/27100
Principal Julie Hess' letter written to vicar general in May 2010 is made public.
http://ncronline.org/node/24888
Shawn Ratigan pleads not guilty.
Days after the arrest of Fr. Shawn Ratigan on charges of possessing child pornography, Bishop Finn admits "deep regret" in a public letter and meets with parishioners and parents.
http://ncronline.org/node/24797
Kansas City police officers arrest Shawn Ratigan on three counts of possession of child pornography. Charges were filed in Clay County, Mo.
Diocesan officials give a disc of images from Shawn Ratigan's computer to Kansas City police officers.
The diocese returns Shawn Ratigan's computer to his family. The computer is destroyed.
Bishop Robert Finn receives reports that Shawn Ratigan attended a St. Patrick's Day parade and also attended a child's birthday party.
The diocese removed Shawn Ratigan from St. Patrick Parish and, after a psychiatric evaluation, appointed him chaplain of a sisters’ convent in nearby Independence, Mo.
Shawn Ratigan attempts suicide.
A technician finds images of children on Shawn Ratigan's computer. Parish deacon gives computer to Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese.
School principal, Julie Hess, sends a letter to vicar general reporting incidents that have "raised significant red flags" about priest Shawn Ratigan's behavior.
http://ncronline.org/node/24888
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