As many are away, on September 6th Bishop Robert Finn of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph was convicted of a misdemeanor for failing to report one of his priests for suspected child abuse. This conviction sets a precedent, it seems, for Bishop Finn is the first bishop criminally charged in connection with the clergy sex abuse scandal that has, for better or worse, largely defined the Catholic Church this last decade.
I find it wholly mind-numbing that Bishop Finn has not resigned his position. If you read the Dallas Charter, Article 4:
I think this is completely asinine and the fact that countless women and men continue to lose faith in the Church is no surprise. It boggles my mind that a priest in Illinois was suspended from public ministry for deviating from liturgical prayers but a bishop who failed to report for child abuse retains his post.
It is most reassuring to know that the abuse of the wording of a liturgical prayer merits harsher punishment than the failure to report a child molester.
Bishop Daniel Conlon is undoubtedly right when he says that the credibility of the Church is "shredded" when it comes to the issue of sexual abuse. How can we possibly preach the Good News when there is a fundamental mistrust of those doing the preaching, a lack of confidence in the institution?
Whenever we pray the Confiteor, there is a line, "in what I have done and it what I have failed to do." Sadly, Bishop Finn's omission - what he failed to do - will mark him forever and each day that he remains in office, the credibility of the Church's episcopacy is called further into question. For the good of the faithful, I would think it best for him to say loudly mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa and leave office to dedicate himself to prayer and penance not only on his own behalf, but on behalf of all of us - clergy and lay - who have failed to live up to our baptismal call.
I find it wholly mind-numbing that Bishop Finn has not resigned his position. If you read the Dallas Charter, Article 4:
Dioceses/eparchies are to report an allegation of sexual abuse of a person who is aThis text was revised in 2011 and this draft was approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Finn, elevated to the episcopacy in 2004, is a member of the USCCB. He voted on this. He failed to live up to its norms.
minor to the public authorities. Dioceses/eparchies are to comply with all applicable civil laws with respect to the reporting of allegations of sexual abuse of minors to civil authorities and cooperate in their investigation in accord with the law of the jurisdiction in question.
Dioceses/eparchies are to cooperate with public authorities about reporting cases even
when the person is no longer a minor.
In every instance, dioceses/eparchies are to advise victims of their right to make a report
to public authorities and support this right.
I think this is completely asinine and the fact that countless women and men continue to lose faith in the Church is no surprise. It boggles my mind that a priest in Illinois was suspended from public ministry for deviating from liturgical prayers but a bishop who failed to report for child abuse retains his post.
It is most reassuring to know that the abuse of the wording of a liturgical prayer merits harsher punishment than the failure to report a child molester.
Bishop Daniel Conlon is undoubtedly right when he says that the credibility of the Church is "shredded" when it comes to the issue of sexual abuse. How can we possibly preach the Good News when there is a fundamental mistrust of those doing the preaching, a lack of confidence in the institution?
Whenever we pray the Confiteor, there is a line, "in what I have done and it what I have failed to do." Sadly, Bishop Finn's omission - what he failed to do - will mark him forever and each day that he remains in office, the credibility of the Church's episcopacy is called further into question. For the good of the faithful, I would think it best for him to say loudly mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa and leave office to dedicate himself to prayer and penance not only on his own behalf, but on behalf of all of us - clergy and lay - who have failed to live up to our baptismal call.
7 comments:
I agree with you Ryan. And thank you for having the courage to post this.
Amen Ryan! ...and it is confounding to whom that so many have left the church?!
Asinine is not a strong enough word. It's a disgrace.
Ryan,
Thank you! I just don't understand why he has not stepped down or why he has not been forced to step down.
Thank you for having the courage to say this. As someone who has struggled with this issue, I can honestly say that my feelings would be so different if I honestly felt that those in positions of influence in the church would give a truly heartfelt "mea culpa." For many of the people, that is all we truly are asking.
Its certainly courageous of you Ryan to put this up on your blog, and i do agree it has caused a stain on the image of the Church.However we do know Christ is the King of his Church on earth, how will he react to this Bishop, a sinner, will he remove him from his kingdom as think of removing him from his post????
Also, take note of his non-apology. Why have US bishops lost their moral authority? Because they refuse to take any responsibility for their sins.
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