KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 27 (UPI) -- A Catholic priest who spent a lot of time with children at a Kansas City, Mo., parish school has been charged with possession of child pornography.
Investigators say the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who was arrested last week and is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail, had pictures of children that looked like they had been taken in the parishes and schools where he worked, The Kansas City Star reported. Ratigan's most recent assignment was at St. Patrick Church in Kansas City.
A technician found the images on Ratigan's laptop in December and turned it over to officials in the Missouri diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, the Star said. But the church only gave it to law enforcement this month.
Bishop Robert Finn admitted at a news conference Friday the diocese was too slow to act and to heed early warnings about Ratigan's conduct.
"I must also acknowledge my own failings," Finn said. "As bishop, I owe it to people to say things must change."
The head of St. Patrick School told the diocese a year ago teachers and parents were concerned about the priest's behavior. His reported actions included allowing young girls to sit on his lap, rubbing their backs and taking what were described as "hundreds" of pictures.
