Bishop Robert Finn at the Jackson County (Mo.) Courthouse (Photo credit: Tammy Ljungblad/Associated Press)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A national Catholic organization is pushing for Bishop Robert Finn to resign after he became the highest-ranking U.S. church official convicted of a crime related to the child sexual abuse scandal. The Kansas City Star reported that the National Survivor Advocates Coalition made the demand during a news conference Sunday in downtown Kansas City. Coalition chairwoman Kristine Ward says a criminally convicted bishop "cannot lead." Finn leads the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. He was convicted earlier this month of one misdemeanor for failing to report child abuse suspicions. The charges stem from a case in which church officials knew about child porn photos on a priest's computer but didn't turn him in until six months later. A diocese spokesman says the bishop continues to focus on his work.