Diocese was warned in 2006 about priest now facing child porn charges, lawsuit alleges
Local Roman Catholic officials were warned in 2006 about a priest now accused of possessing child pornography yet took no action, a lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday alleges.
The lawsuit, filed by the parents of a young girl, also alleges that beginning around 2006 and continuing through 2010 the Rev. Shawn F. Ratigan took photographs underneath her clothing and while the child was nude.
Lawyers for the child’s family said the photographs were taken while Ratigan was assigned in St. Joseph.