KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 22 (UPI) — The Catholic Church in Missouri faces more lawsuits brought by alleged victims of a priest who has admitted producing child pornography.
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Bishop Robert Finn are named as defendants along with the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who is awaiting sentencing, The Kansas City Star reported Tuesday. Lawyers say Finn and the diocese “abetted” Rattigan when he used two girls for pornography.
The diocese settled one lawsuit last week involving Ratigan for $600,000. Ratigan has not responded to any of the litigation and appears to have no assets.
In a statement, church officials described Ratigan’s conduct as “immoral and destructive” and said the complaints contain some inaccuracies.
The pornography was discovered by a computer technician in 2010. Finn was convicted last year of a misdemeanor, failing to report child abuse.
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