Posted on 04/21/2015 3:59:47 AM PDT by marshmallow
US bishop was convicted in September 2012 of failing to report an accusation of child abuse
The Vatican has announced the resignation of Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St Joseph.
In a statement released earlier today, the Vatican said that “the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert W Finn from the pastoral governance” of his diocese. The statement did not name a successor.
Bishop Finn was convicted in September 2012 of failing to report an accusation of child abuse. He waited five months before reporting that explicit images of young girls were found on the computer of one of his priests. He is, to date, the only US bishop to be found guilty of such a charge.
As a result of the conviction, Bishop Finn served a two-year suspended sentence and the diocese was fined $1.1 million.
The Vatican had previously been criticised for failing to remove the bishop from his post.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicherald.co.uk ...
High fives all around at the Reporter.
And they still didn't remove him from the post. He remained a bishop during his entire suspended sentence, and for six months beyond that, before he gave his voluntary and customary resignation at retirement age.
His "resignation" falls under the section of Canon Law which allows bishops to resign early for illness or some “grave” reason that makes them unfit for office.
I have to go through a yearly drilling on my legal responsibilities to report this stuff, and I’m just a lowly usher.
How could he not have known?
“How could he not have known?”
If you read the whole original report, it is more understandable. http://www.diocese-kcsj.org/_docs/8-31-11_Report_of_Independent_Investigation.pdf
This is sad news all around. Setting aside the very controversial case against Finn, which may or may not have been justified, he was a solid conservative bishop. I shudder when thinking who is likely to be appointed by Francis to replace him.
I’m trying not to be nervous, knowing full well I have no control over the appointment! Bishop Finn brought in some incredible young priests while he was here. My family gets to enjoy one of these priests on a weekly basis. I’m grateful for the time he was here and will continue to pray for him. I’ll also start praying earnestly for a good replacement. My two oldest kids will be Confirmed in a couple of weeks so this is a bit on the bitter side for me. I would have loved to have the Bishop be there! I hate that it will now be slightly tainted, although the Archbishop is a wonderful man, too.
That doesn't make it right, of course. But it seems to be rather inflammatory to see it described as "failing to report child abuse".
The customary retirement age is 75. Bishop Finn is 62. If you read the canon that he resigned according to, it is clear that his resignation was requested.
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