An independent report commissioned by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to examine its policies and procedures for assessing allegations of sexual abuse of children found “shortcomings, inaction and confusing procedures,” said Todd P. Graves, the former U.S. attorney who headed the investigation. The key finding of the report, released on Sept. 1 by the diocese, was that “diocesan leaders failed to follow their own policies and procedures for responding to reports” relating to abuse claims lodged against two priests. The 138-page report faulted Msgr. Robert Murphy, the diocesan vicar general, who “waited too long to advise the [diocesan] Independent Review Board…of the allegations.” While still vicar general, Monsignor Murphy has been relieved of duties relating to clergy sexual abuse allegations. One issue was his delayed decision to contact police over the suspected misconduct of the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who was eventually arrested.
'Shortcomings' in Abuse Procedures
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
President Joe Biden's decision not to seek re-election is surprising—but don't call it unprecedented. It happened once before, in 1968.
In her keynote address at the Eucharistic Congress, Gloria Purvis warned that disloyalty to Pope Francis, the sin of racism and putting political parties above God threaten the unity of the Catholic Church.
In face-to-face conversations, Catholics can disagree without being disagreeable, moving beyond caricatures to better understand each other’s humanity and heart.
A Eucharistic pilgrimage from Indianapolis to Los Angeles is being planned for spring 2025, while congress organizers who had been discerning an 11th National Eucharistic Congress in 2033, are now considering planning the event even sooner.