Conflicting testimony on Bishop Finn's reaction to images of children on priest's computer

August 31, 2012

A employee of the Diocese of Kansas City, Missouri, reportedly testified that Bishop Robert Finn said that “boys will be boys” when he was informed that a priest had been found with disturbing images of children on his computer. But the woman who gave that testimony later said that it was inaccurate.

In a sworn deposition, Julie Creech said that when Bishop Finn was told what had been found on Father Shawn Ratigan’s computer, he remarked: “Sometimes priests do things they shouldn’t,” and “Sometimes boys will be boys.”

At the time, the bishop was apparently not aware that the computer files contained sexually oriented images of children. The priest pleaded guilty to federal charges of child pornography earlier this year.

However, a lawyer representing Creech said that his client had “misspoken” when she gave that testimony, and was looking for an opportunity to correct her deposition. He said that the “boys will be boys” quote was “not consistent with her recollection” of her exchange with Bishop Finn. Bishop Finn faces trial in September for his alleged failure to report evidence of sexual abuse in the Ratigan case. The Creech testimony was prepared in connection with that case.

 

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Further information:

• Deposition: Bishop Said ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ About Pictures (Fox)
• Testimony about bishop ‘misspoken’ in priest sex abuse case (Kansas City Star)