Monsignor Charles Scicluna, a Vatican prosecutor who deals with cases involving sex crimes within the Catholic church, informed reporters that under church law if a bishop does not follow proper procedures in dealing with priests who have abused children that they could face disciplinary actions. According to an Associated Report, Scicluna told journalists, “it is not acceptable that when there are set standards, people do not follow the set standards.”

In Kansas City, this is an all too familiar subject as Bishop Robert W. Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph currently face misdemeanor charges in Jackson County. They are being charged for allegedly failing to report child abuse allegations against Rev. Shawn Ratigan. Representatives of the diocese, along with Finn pled not guilty to the charges and await trial scheduled in September.

Scicluna told the AP that ,“It is a crime in canon law to show malicious or fraudulent negligence in the exercise of one’s duty.” Cannon law is the legal system of the church and dates back over 1,000 years. While most Catholics may only have a unclear understanding of it, this new candidness by the church may shed light on the church legal system.

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