Bishop Finn strikes deal with prosecutor to avoid new indictment

November 15, 2011

Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City, Missouri, has reached an agreement with a local prosecutor that allows the bishop to escape a 2nd indictment on criminal charges of failing to report evidence of sexual abuse.

Bishop Finn, who was indicted in October by a Jackson County prosecutor, entered into a 5-year diversion program with the prosecutor in neighboring Clay Country. The agreement will give the prosecutor effective supervisory control over diocesan programs to prevent sexual abuse.

“This will be a learning experience for the bishop,” said Clay County prosecutor Daniel White, who will receive monthly reports from the bishop during the 5-year period. Bishop Finn—who was in Baltimore attending a meeting of the US bishops’ conference when the deal was announced—released as statement saying that he was “grateful for this opportunity to resolve this matter.”

Bishop Finn now becomes the 4th American prelate to strike a bargain with prosecutors, giving public officials some control over diocesan affairs in order to escape prosecution. Similar deals were struck by Bishop John McCormack of Manchester, New Hampshire, in 2001; Bishop Thomas O’Brien of Phoenix and Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnat in 2003; and Bishop Daniel Walsh of Santa Rosa, California, in 2006. Bishops O’Brien and Walsh later resigned; Archbishop Pilarczyk and Bishop McCormack remained in office until reaching retirement age.

 

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Further information:

• Bishop Finn avoids indictment by entering diversion program (Kansas City Star)
• Finn agrees to keep Clay County up on abuse claims (AP)
• KC Bishop Agrees To Oversight Deal In Clay County (KMBC)
• Bishop Finn indicted for failure to report priest's child-porn discovery (CWN, 10/14)