The Holy See has announced that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert W. Finn of Kansa City –St. Joseph.
According to a communique by the Holy See Press Office, Bishop Finn presented his resignation and was accepted by the Holy Father “in conformity with can. 401 § 2.”
The above-mentioned canon states that a “diocesan bishop who has become less able to fulfill his office because of ill health or some other grave cause is earnestly requested to present his resignation from office.”
Bishop Finn made headlines when he was convicted of failing to report child abuse when a computer technician found hundreds of obscene photos of underage minors on a priest’s laptop. The incident was not reported to authorities. The American prelate chose to send him to therapy and ordered him to not be near children. The former priest, however, continued contact, prompting the diocese to finally report him to the authorities.
Calls had been made for the bishop’s removal, some who failed to understand why he remained as leader of the diocese despite the conviction. Others rushed to the prelate’s defense, saying that Bishop Finn did the best that he could with a very delicate situation, given reports of the priest’s mental state.
In an interview with CBS News, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, member of the Council of Cardinals and head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, also spoke on the matter, saying that it is “a question that the Holy See needs to address urgently.”
