Bishop Finn outlines plan to stop sex abuse

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - About 50 Catholics attended a meeting to hear Bishop Robert Finn and his child abuse protection team speak at St. Patrick Catholic Church in the Northland.

This meeting was the third in a series of six mandated by the Clay County prosecutor. A criminal charge against Finn was dropped in exchange for the meetings, but he still faces a charge in Jackson County for failure to not report abuse suspicions. 

Saturday night’s meeting outlined the diocese’s new child protection plan, which includes background checks and educating adults on abuse warning signs. 

The crowd listened to the information, but many of them sounded off afterwards.  One woman told Finn that she has lost faith in him. 

Another man said he was upset with the situation.

“I’m ashamed that prosecutors made him come here,” said the church member.

Some of the members questioned why he still had a job, but Finn would not address any issues concerning the past because of the pending case.

“He’s our bishop, but I don’t look at him the same way that I did before,” said John Tanner.

Tanner said the church is moving in the right direction by providing a sex abuse plan, but he wants more done.

‘It’s reactive it's after the fact the Catholic Church needs to do proactive to stop the abuse,” said Tanner.

Some church members said it’s time to trust church leaders.

“In the end I still pray for him and I know that this will go through well, I support Bishop Finn,” said Dominico Nguyen.

Finn will be at another church meeting next Saturday.  The gathering will be at the Church of the Good Sheppard at 1 p.m. in Smithville.