Kansas City's Catholic Diocese doesn't always make reasonable decisions. Just off the top of my head, there was the time it allowed a priest accused of possessing child pornography to stay with the church for five months before telling the police. But the church is large and contains multitudes, and on some issues, church officials understand the value of a thoughtful response. Fundraising, for instance.
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has decided to delay a capital fundraising campaign, because the majority of priests fear that the still fresh and unresolved scandal could make asking for tithes appear to be just a bit in poor taste. Just a little bit.
In June, a lawsuit was filed against Bishop Robert Finn, the diocese and the Rev. Shawn Ratigan (the previously mentioned alleged possessor of child pornography). The lawsuit, filed by the parents of a now-7-year-old girl, alleges that Ratigan photographed her in sexually inappropriate poses when she was between the ages of 2 and 3.
The goal of the capital drive was to raise enough money for construction of a new school. There were, however, concerns about how well it would be received since "the challenge with Shawn Ratigan came to the forefront of our attention," wrote vice-chancellor Paula Moss in a letter to the diocese priests.
"When we asked our priests for advice and guidance, 75 percent of the priests recommended that we delay our consideration of a capital campaign at this time," Moss continued. "We are following that recommendation."
Hurray for decorum. Fucking hurray.
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