(AP) – Priest sex abuse victims are urging prosecutors in Jackson, Buchanan and Clay Counties to convene grand juries to investigate whether Catholic church hierarchy concealed crimes in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

In a letter dated Friday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests also asked for the cancellation of a weekend march in support of Bishop Robert Finn.

Finn has apologized repeatedly for not taking action earlier in the case of a Kansas City-area priest charged with possessing child pornography.  Priest Sean Ratigan was charged earlier this summer.  An internal investigation is also underway.

A federal lawsuit claims the diocese and Finn tried to cover up the priest’s crimes to save the church’s reputation.

Finn announced last week a plan to deal with the recent allegations of sexual misconduct in the diocese. The plan includes hiring a former federal prosecutor to investigate.