TKC EXCLUSIVE AND BREAKING NEWS!!! CHECK OUT THE SMARMY TODD GRAVES MARKETING TACTICS EMPLOYED BY THE KANSAS CITY CATHOLIC HIERARCHY!!!
Sorry for not posting this earlier but it STILL provides a pretty good reason to abandon faith in everything . . .
A RATHER KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTER SHOWS US SOME MARKETING MATERIALS THAT DON'T SPEAK WELL OF SO MANY LOCAL CATHOLIC PROMISES OF TRANSPARENCY!!!
A bit of background . . . We all know child porn charges and other nasty biz has embroiled Bishop Finn and the KC/St. Joe diocese in quite a bit of controversy.
In order to get out of hot water . . . The local Catholic leadership turned to Todd Graves for help in turning around their horrible, local rep.
Accordingly . . .
A KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTER CRIES FOUL UPON READING THE MARKETING MATERIALS FROM THE TODD GRAVES FIRM THAT RUN COUNTER TO KANSAS CITY CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP PROMISES!!!
Take a look at the marketing material for yourself . . . Click the images to enlarge:
MORE IMPORTANTLY . . . Check some commentary on this topic that sums up the sitch a lot more eloquently than I ever could . . .
"Please find attached a scanned copy of a promotional mailing, which advertises the services of the law firm of Graves Bartle Marcus and Garrett, LLC.
"With arrogance, the advertisement touts the firm's usefulness to potential clients who find themselves "under investigation" by the government. In addition, the law firm promises that it offers "confidential" services.
"Rather than stressing the firm's ability to investigate allegations of wrong-doing in order to correct problems, the advertisement promises to "protect the person, protect the brand ...."
"Of course, this advertisement is particularly interesting because late this spring, the local Catholic Diocese retained Mr. Todd Graves to investigate how the diocese handled the matter of the Rev. Shawn F. Ratigan, other sex abuse allegations, and church policies and procedures -- at a time when victims were calling for a law enforcement investigation!
"The appointment of Mr. Graves, as viewed in the light of his law firm's advertising, begs the question: Is Mr. Graves retained to investigate wrong-doing, or cover it up with his credentials, credibility and confidentiality?
"Furthermore, one might ask, in this case: Does protecting the person and the brand equate with protecting Bishop Finn and the Catholic hierarchy -- at the expense of heinously injured individuals and families?
"The since the firm of Graves Bartel Marcus and Garrett, LLC promises its clients "confidential" services, one can assume that the only way that questions surrounding Mr. Graves retention by the Diocese can be answered fully, faithfully and transparently is through a special Grand Jury investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse by priests and the Diocese response to those allegations.
Injustice should not be available for purchase for a fee."
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I don't really care what superstitions anybody subscribes to . . . But that bit of promotional junk mail is EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of what local Catholic leaders promised in response to this latest round of criticism.
And it's tragic to think that once again PR speak and legalese might thwart any real change in the rather pervy, nasty and constantly disappointing local Catholic Church.
DEVELOPING . . .
impressive.
ReplyDeleteExcellent Tony.
ReplyDeleteFuckin awesome.
Churches, and I mean ALL CHURCHES, believe in only one fucking thing...MONEY. If you have no bucks, you'll get no lucks with churches.
ReplyDeleteGoal #1 for Catholics: Keep your pederast priests from buggering and otherwise molesting youth.
ReplyDeleteGoal #2, we'll discuss when you prove you can handle goal #1.
Not surprised by this at all. Religious institutions are the worst at cover-ups and lies. The Catholic Church puts BP to shame in that category.
ReplyDeleteFACTS:
ReplyDelete1. We already know Bishop Finn and the Church hierarchy are not REALLY interested in justice.
2. The more pressing question NOW is: are our local governmental prosecutors interested in justice? ... or are they too afraid, career-wise to go against the Church, and risk alienating SOME bitter-end Catholic voters?
3. Someone should care (just a little bit) for the children who were first abused by the Church, and who are now being thrown under the bus by civil authorities.
Jean?
ReplyDeleteJean Peters-Baker?
Are you there, Jean?
Jean?
Jean, don't be afraid of the Church, the people of the church are not happy with the coverup it is their children at risk. Show us you were a good pick by Mike Sanders. Go Jean Go
ReplyDeleteThis is just another example of the same old KCMO PR crap. Whether it's the church, the business community, the city government, the KCPD, or most any other institution, they never base asking for public support based on perfomance, credibility, or even behavior.
ReplyDeleteIt's always consultants, PR, and excuses, and then reverting to the same old behaviors and hoping the public can be tricked the next time someone gets caught, which they always do.
By the way, who's ahead on "Dancing with the Stars"?
The attention span of fleas!
What? So they mail out an announcement about their two offices and partners, and that constitutes a cover-up for the Catholic faith? All lawyers MUST maintain their clients confidentiality, so why is it weird that Graves's firm would do the same? The mailor has nothing to do with the Catholic church. Love you, Tony, but you're reaching on this one...
ReplyDeleteWe need a Grand Jury.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail RIGHT on the head with with one T. Excellent journalism.
ReplyDeleteMakes you wonder why The Star does not uncover things like this?
ReplyDeleteYou can be sure now that it has appeared on Tony's that The Star will ignore it. Cowards!
Graves and Bartle should lose their law licences for this kind of bullshit.
Fired Up should link to it!
nice TKC. honestly Graves is just a hired-gun to white wash the pedophile priest scandal.
ReplyDeleteWhen ya going to get a new template so we don't have to wear out our index finger scrolling around here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support!
ReplyDeleteGraves get your ass in here!
ReplyDeleteI raid thousands of poor boxes to pay you dumb motherfuckers for a legal cover-up, and then you send out an ad for cover-ups?
You Goddamn MORON!
I should have never listened to Rupert Murdoch when he said to hire you and "save my person and brand!"
I would have thought Rupert knew how to stay out of trouble?
Someone get Dan Ryan in here, I need to kick him around the Knave to work out my aggression. I always feel better after I kick Dan Ryan around the Knave.
I guess Glenn Rice and Judy L. Thomas just do not have a knack for the "journalism stuff."
ReplyDeleteThis is why I do not buy The Star, they are the last ones to know anything and then they wait to tell anyone.
Very good job T! You showed up the people in the big building again.
I wonder whether Bartle will stress this when he runs for AG?
ReplyDeleteLet’s hope that every person who saw, suspected or suffered KC clergy sex crimes and cover ups in will find the courage and strength to speak up, call police, expose wrongdoing, protect kids and start healing.
ReplyDeleteIf you have knowledge or suspicions - however old, small or seemingly insignificant - about clergy sex crimes, it's your moral and civic duty to call police. Please summon the courage to do what's right, call law enforcement and hopefully prevent more devastated lives.
David Clohessy, Director, SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, (7234 Arsenal Street, St. Louis MO 63143), 314 566 9790 cell (SNAPclohessy@aol.com)
Since the Star asked for Finn's resignation, I think that they were swamped with complaints from Finn's syncophants. (The man knows alot of rich and powerful people.)
ReplyDeleteThey will probably back off of this story now, out of fear. Too bad. It's probably only the tip of the iceberg.
Ratigan's goose is probably cooked. Finn will walk away free and clear.
The Star should not be printed if it does not follow up on this mail ad. Jesua H. Christ!
ReplyDeleteI hope SNAP makes good use of it.
This is just disgusting. I would expect better from the Graves Family.
ReplyDeleteOne more time Tony.
ReplyDeleteGreat fuckin post.
Light the way.
And Bartle was worried about strippers, but he does THIS for a living?
ReplyDeleteAnd one more time, the Roman Catholic Church decides "duck and cover" is the best strategy to deal with sexually deviant priests.
ReplyDeleteJust breaks this Christian believer's heart. Probably doesn't do much for God's either.
Disappointing is the perfect word.
Tony -
ReplyDeleteThe source for your post is not a "kick ass TKC tipster". It is Mr. David Clohessy of SNAP.
Mr. Clohessy is paid $85,000+ a year to smear entities which are in legal disputes with the very same lawyers who generate his income.
Rather shocking that this paid flak would make an accusation of being "available for purchase for a fee," and that you've allowed him to do so anonymously.
Best,
Jack Smith
Editor
The Catholic Key
Hi Jack,
ReplyDeleteNo, neither the info about this mailer nor the quote is from Mr. Clohessy.
However, it is interesting that he's getting that much cheddar for for his gig.
As for the tipsters doing what they do anonymously . . . That's basically what this blog is all about and I don't really judge them (or anybody) by their salary - Only be the veracity of their info.
In this case, the AWESOME TKC TIPSTER had documents to back up a very strong opinion.
Peace,
Tony
Tony - I've got no problem with your anonymous tipsters. It's why I check in here.
ReplyDeleteI guess you did get it from someone else. Sorry.
Clohessy was selling this story to other media outlets today who asked us for comment.
Cheers.
I am a female survivor of priest abuse, 1952, diocese of KC MO. They covered it up then, they cover it up now. New rules, new smoke and mirrors tactics and more money thrown is not going to make a difference. Bishops lie. They believe themselves to be above the law. The focus of all of this is the children and vulnerable adults who were abused and thrown away like broken toys. Still, the sheeple pay to prey, enabling sexually immature deviants. For me, 0-credibility. I'm long gone and when a Cathoic kid is abused, just remember that you were warned.
ReplyDeleteAwesome research, TKC.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, you just have to assume that everything the Catholic church does is based in lies and deceit, and the deeper a hole they dig, the more they lie and deceive.
In addition, Satan's little helpers like Jack Smith will throw in their distractions, as if it matters how much money Clohesy makes. They learn well from their bishops, learning to lie and deceive from the best.
By the way, the big TV spokesman for the Catholic church, Bill Donahue, makes $400,000 a year.
Clohessy might be making $85,000 a year, but how much is the fee that Graves will be charging the diocese? ( I mean, as long as we're being distracted with how much money people are making from this mess.)
ReplyDelete