Pope Francis removes U.S. bishop who didn't report priest with child porn
On Tuesday, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert Finn, who led the Kansas City/St. Joseph diocese. Finn pleaded guilty in 2012 to charges that he failed to report suspected child abuse to authorities — he waited six months to tell police that Rev. Shawn Ratigan had hundreds of explicit photos on his computer of young girls from around churches where he worked — and was sentenced to two years of probation. Ratigan was given 50 years for child pornography.
Finn, 62, offered his resignation under a section of canon law that allows early departure of duties due to illness or other "grave" reason that renders them unfit for duty. Last month, Pope Francis demoted Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland and stripped him of all priestly "duties and privileges" after O'Brien admitted to sexual misconduct in 2013, but Finn is the first U.S. bishop removed for failing to report a suspected child abuser. Archbishop Joseph Naumman will temporarily lead the Kansas City diocese. Peter Weber
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