In earlier posts, we've written about the investigation of the Catholic churches in Pennsylvania. There have been allegations of sex crimes and individuals trying to hide sex crimes.

The recent arrest of one bishop marks the arrest of the highest-ranking U.S. Catholic official indicted on charges for failing to protect children. According to the allegations against the priest, he discovered hundreds of child pornography images on a priest's computer, but he waited five months before reporting the pictures to the police.

Although he reported the pictures eventually, the bishop was charged with sheltering an abusive clergyman and failing to report suspected child abuse. One prosecutor stated that the bishop and his diocese were required to report the pornography because the pictures should have given them reason to believe that a child had been abused.

If the bishop is convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The diocese also faces a $1,000 fine. The bishop plans to fight the charges, however, and said, "We will meet these announcements with a steady resolve and a vigorous defense."

When the allegations of sex crimes in the Catholic Church first erupted in 2002, several grand juries reviewed laws regarding how claims against priests and bishops should be handled. Because most of the claims against the religious leaders were outside the statute of limitations, the statute was changed so religious leaders could be prosecuted.

Since that time, bishops, priests and other religious leaders have been charged with sexual assault, child endangerment, and producing and possessing child pornography, among other charges.

One individual said that "charging only [the bishop] might allow some to assume that he's the root of the crisis." The individual continued to claim that the bishop was not acting alone and that he is part of a "very unhealthy, secretive church hierarchy." If those are the claims the authorities believe as well, it will be unnerving to see how they investigate and prosecute others in the Catholic community.

Source: The Associated Press, "KC bishop charged for not bringing porn to police," Bill Draper, Oct. 14, 2011