That is the argument that prosecutors in Missouri are making. In October Jean Peters Baker, the Jackson County prosecutor, announced a grand jury indictment of Bishop Robert Finn and the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The indictment alleges that Finn and diocese officials covered up the activities of priest Shawn Ratigan, who is accused of taking pornographic photos of young girls.

According to a New York Times article published on Oct. 15, a technician found several lewd photos on Ratigan’s computer and informed the diocese in December 2010. But the diocese, headed by Finn, waited until May of this year before reporting this to the police. For almost half a year, Ratigan took part in children’s parties and other parish events, and administered First Holy Communion on one occasion. He allegedly took lewd photos of another girl. According to the article, evidence against Ratigan includes “hundreds of photographs of children on Father Ratigan’s laptop, including a child’s naked vagina, upskirt images and images focused on the crotch.”

Ratigan has been charged with possessing and producing child pornography and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Finn and the diocese, each charged with one misdemeanor count of failing to report suspected child abuse, have also pleaded not guilty.

This situation makes one wonder just how often church leaders cover up for priests. How many have ignored accusations against the thousands of priests who have been charged with sexually abused children? Hard to know.

This is the first time an American bishop has been charged with covering up suspected abuse. In fact, only one other bishop in France, has been accused of a similar crime, according to a New York Times’ investigation.

The new charges against the diocese in Kansas City, however, offer some evidence that attitudes are changing. Even if diocese officials did wait, Ratigan was eventually delivered to police. That hasn’t been true in thousands of similar cases across the country. Also, the church will finally be forced to explain the behavior of its officials in a court of law and that’s new.))