In brief: Pope accepts U.S. bishop’s resignation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Pope Francis accepted the resignation Tuesday of a U.S. bishop who was convicted of failing to report a suspected child abuser, answering calls by victims to take action against bishops who cover up for pedophile priests.

Bishop Robert Finn, who led the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri for nearly 10 years, resigned under canon law that allows bishops to resign early for illness or some “grave” reason that makes them unfit for office. But his resignation did not provide a specific reason.

Finn, 62, is 13 years shy of the normal retirement age of 75.

In 2012, Finn was found guilty of one misdemeanor count of failure to report suspected abuse and was sentenced to two years of probation, making him the highest-ranking church official in the U.S. to be convicted of not taking action in response to abuse allegations.

Prosecutors said the diocese did not notify police until six months after concerns were raised in 2011 about the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, whose computers were found to contain hundreds of lewd photos of young girls.

Since the convictions, Finn has faced pressure to resign, including local and national petition drives asking the pope to remove him from the diocese.

The removal was praised by Marie Collins, a prominent member of Francis’ own sex abuse advisory board who had called for Finn to go and demanded the Vatican hold bishops accountable when they fail to protect children.

“Things are moving slowly, as I have said many times, but they are moving in the right direction!” Collins tweeted.

Francis appointed Archbishop Joseph Naumann, head of the Kansas City, Kansas, diocese, to lead the Missouri diocese until Finn’s successor is named. In a letter to the diocese, Naumann said he prayed “that the coming weeks and months will be a time of grace and healing.” Naumann will retain his duties in Kansas.

Tribal businessman ousts Navajo president

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Russell Begaye easily beat a former two-term Navajo Nation president Tuesday for the top post on the country’s largest American Indian reservation, ending a tumultuous election season that was extended by nearly five months amid a heated court fight over a candidate’s ability to speak fluent Navajo.

Begaye led Joe Shirley Jr. by about 10,000 votes with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results.

Begaye, a businessman who served four years on the Navajo Nation Council, congratulated Shirley on his accomplishments as president and on his campaign.

LOS ANGELES – A California county on Tuesday approved paying a $650,000 settlement to avoid a lawsuit by a man whose beating by deputies after a horse chase was captured on video and led to a federal civil rights investigation.

San Bernardino County supervisors approved the settlement with Francis Pusok, 30, in a closed meeting, said David Wert, a county spokesman.

Attorneys Sharon Brunner and Jim Terrell, who represent Pusok, said in a statement that county officials initiated the settlement negotiations. The lawyers noted that it was “remarkable as there was essentially no investigation nor any indictments,” and it was based on video.

Pusok’s arrest was recorded by a TV news crew in a helicopter and led to the FBI probe and 10 deputies being placed on leave pending an ongoing internal investigation.

Pusok fled by car and then on the horse in the desert on April 9 while deputies chased him on foot after trying to serve a search warrant in an identity-theft investigation.

The video shows Pusok, dressed in bright red clothing, falling from the horse as a deputy ran up and fired a Taser that officials said was ineffective.

Pusok is seen face down with his legs outstretched and hands behind his back as a deputy threw punches and kicks. One deputy kicked him in the crotch. Other deputies arrived moments later.

The agreement would settle all potential civil claims, but it does not affect internal, criminal or civil rights investigations, Wert said.

VA chief calls budget plan ‘inadequate’

WASHINGTON – A House subcommittee’s plan to cut the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs by more than $1.4 billion next year will “cause veterans to suffer,” VA Secretary Robert McDonald said Tuesday.

Testifying at a Senate hearing, McDonald said a spending plan approved by a House Appropriations subcommittee on veterans affairs was “inadequate” to meet the growing needs of veterans.

The subcommittee’s plan would cut veterans’ medical care by $690 million, the equivalent of 70,000 fewer veterans receiving VA medical care than under President Barack Obama’s budget proposal, McDonald said.

The House plan also would eliminate funding for four major construction projects, including a planned rehabilitation therapy building in St. Louis, and eliminate planned cemetery expansions in four states and Puerto Rico, McDonald said.

The GOP budget plan “will cause veterans to suffer,” McDonald told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee. “It means fewer veterans will get care.”