(Kansas City Star) For months after finding troubling images on a computer, the Catholic diocese tried on its own to deal with Father Shawn Ratigan.
As a result, a report released Thursday said, the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph went off track, bungling its own investigation and failing to even follow its own policies.
An investigation by a former federal prosecutor found that “individuals in positions of authority reacted to events in ways that could have jeopardized the safety of children in diocesan parishes, schools and families.”
Investigative reports that find institutional failures often highlight how abuse allegations were handled and whether proper procedures were followed. These reports may reveal failures to report allegations, inadequate investigations, or decisions that allowed offenders to continue working with children. Public reports often lead to policy changes and increased oversight.