Federal Child Porn Charges for Ratigan

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An area priest already jailed on state child pornography charges now faces federal charges as a grand jury indicts Father Shawn Ratigan on 13 counts.

The grand jury report spells describes in unforgiving detail the anatomically explicit close-up photos it says Ratigan took and attempted to take of little girls ages 2 through 12. US Attorney Beth Phillips says the indictment makes a statement: "When a person who has been placed in a position of trust violates that trust, it victimizes the entire community."

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests released a statement saying that officials of the Diocese also violated that trust by leaving Ratigan in jobs where he could continue victimizing children. SNAP says officials of the Diocese also should have been indicted.

The Diocese has issued a statement of "profound concern" for those victimized and renewed its pledge to work with law enforcement.