Diocese settles two lawsuits

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has settled lawsuits brought by a former worker who claimed sexual harassment and a former contractor who claimed the diocese retaliated against her by making it impossible to do her job, attorneys for the plaintiffs and diocese said.

Attorneys for plaintiffs and the diocese declined to discuss details of the settlements, The Kansas City Star reported Monday.

The diocese denied the allegations after each lawsuit was filed.

In one, Margaret Mata, a former independent contractor, alleged that the diocese and Bishop Robert Finn retaliated against her for advocating on behalf of victims of the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who pleaded guilty last month to federal charges of producing and attempting to produce child pornography. She also said she pushed the diocese to change its policies to prevent further child sexual abuse.

Mata said the diocese made it impossible for her to do her job by disabling her email, taking away her laptop and confiscating her business cards. She eventually resigned and then sued in October 2011, claiming retaliation, wrongful dismissal and invasion of privacy.

After the lawsuit was filed, the diocese said in a statement that it “categorically denies it ever prevented Mata from performing any work that was within the scope of her agreement as a contract worker.”