Coverage of Bishop Finn's bench trial from inside the courthouse

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - To read live coverage of Bishop Robert Finn's bench trial, click here: http://live.kshb.com/Event/Bishop_Finn_Bench_Trial

A judge rather than a jury will decide the case against Bishop Robert Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph later this week.

The trial against Finn and the diocese was originally scheduled for Sept. 24, but it was changed to a bench trial set for Thursday. According to the Jackson County Prosecutor's office, the judge presiding over the trial is expected to rule on it that same day.

Both parties face two misdemeanor charges each of failing to report suspected child abuse from December 2010 to May 2011, in connection with allegations against Rev. Shawn Ratigan.

Ratigan pleaded guilty to four counts of producing child pornography and one count of attempting to produce child pornography in August.

According to court documents, after being informed of pornographic photographs of young girls found on Ratigan's computer, Finn sent the priest to a hospital for psychiatric care instead of reporting him to authorities.

The diocese didn't turn over evidence to law enforcement until May 2011, after Finn found out Ratigan had violated orders to stay away from children.

Read the full indictment: http://bit.ly/T55GnS