KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An arbitrator says the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese must pay a $1.1 million fine because it violated a settlement of an earlier lawsuit involving sexual abuse by diocesan priests.
The $10 million settlement reached in 2008 included 19 requirements for the diocese, such as immediately reporting any abuse and establishing victims’ advocacy programs.

Three years ago, a lawsuit accused the diocese of violating the settlement in such ways as failing to report for nearly a year suspected abuse committed by Rev. Shawn Ratigan, and withholding evidence of possible child pornography for months.

The Kansas City Star reported Tuesday that arbitrator Hollis Hanover agreed that the diocese violated the agreement.

The diocese argues in a court motion that Hanover exceeded his authority and is seeking to have his ruling vacated.