Vatican must 'urgently address' bishop convicted of shielding priest, cardinal says

The Vatican must “urgently address” the fact that the first American bishop convicted of shielding an abusive priest remains the head of a Catholic diocese, the archbishop of Boston said.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley addressed the issue and several others facing Catholic church officials during an interview with Norah O’Donnell and “60 Minutes” scheduled to air on Sunday.

Bishop Robert Finn of the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese pleaded guilty more than two years ago to a criminal misdemeanor of failing to inform authorities that one of his priests was suspected of sexually abusing a minor. Vatican officials began probing Finn’s leadership in September, but he still remains bishop.

“[Finn] wouldn’t be allowed to teach Sunday school in Boston,” O’Donnell said to O’Malley.

“That’s right,” O’Malley replied. “It’s a question the Holy See needs to address urgently … There’s recognition of that from Pope Francis.”

O’Mally, the head of the Catholic Church’s new commission to combat child abuse, was also chosen by Pope Francis to be included in the nine-member Council of Cardinals, his closest set of advisors.

O’Donnell also asked O’Malley his thoughts on another issue addressed by the Vatican last year when it reprimanded a body of American nuns for focusing more on social justice than on matters like contraception and abortion. The nuns were ultimately placed under the supervision of a three-bishop panel and the Catholic Church, perceived by many as a disciplinary measure.

“A disaster,” O’Malley said of the controversy.