The Diocese of Biloxi has released the names of three diocesan clergy – including a former vicar at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hattiesburg – who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct involving minors during their time with the diocese, along with an explanation of how diocese officials have responded to the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church.
The accused former members of the diocese are Jose Vasquez Morales, Jerome J. Axton and Vincent The Quang Nguyen.
Morales, who served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart from 2011 to 2014, was arrested by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department in 2015 after a 10-year-old boy’s father called police and reported inappropriate behavior between Morales and the boy.
According to a release issued by the diocese, Morales admitted that he abused his position of trust and acted inappropriately with a minor.
Morales, who is from Mexico, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, as well as deportation.
At the time of his arrest, Morales was serving as pastor at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Wiggins and with St. Lucy Mission in Lucedale.
He was parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Laurel from 2009 to 2011.
“We pray that the release of these names may not be a source of additional pain or suffering to those affected,” read an email sent last week by Terrance P. Dickson, director of communications and editor of Gulf Pine Catholic for the diocese. “We earnestly earn all institutions, public and private, to join us in shining a light of truth on a momentous societal problem.”
Axton served as parochial vicar at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gulfport, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Gulfport, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pascagoula and St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs. He was arrested in Biloxi in 1989 after an inappropriate relationship with an adolescent female.
Nguyen served as parochial vicar at St. Michael Catholic Church in Biloxi and as Diocesan Vietnamese Apostolate. He was arrested in Biloxi in 1989 after having inappropriate relationship with a minor/adolescent females.
The list of names does not include allegations prior to the founding of the Diocese of Biloxi in 1977, as those names are expected to be released by the Diocese of Jackson in the near future. The list also does not include abuse alleged to have happened outside the Diocese of Biloxi by extern clergy who have served there.
In addition to the three names, the Diocese of Biloxi also released a document titled “A Reason to Hope: The Dioces of Biloxi’s Response to the Church’s Sexual Abuse Crisis.” The document outlines current policies of Bishop of Biloxi Louis F. Kihneman III, as well as a brief history of sexual abuse prevention in the diocese and more recent measures.
“As Bishop of Biloxi, I assure you the Clergy, Religious, and laity who serve in the ministries of our diocese are firmly committed to making Church ministries safe for all people,” Kihneman said in the document. “The Diocese of Biloxi has zero tolerance for sexual misconduct against children, youth and vulnerable adults and has a sound police in place to address any complaints.”
According to the document, sexual abuse prevention efforts in the diocese date back to 1995, with the formulation of a Sexual Misconduct Policy. Church officials also required individuals who were employed in the catholic school system and Catholic Social and Community Services to sign consent forms, and employees were processed through the State of Mississippi Child Abuse Registry.
After news broke in early 2002 of alleged sexual abuse and cover-up at the Archdiocese of Boston, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued “The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Shortly afterwards, the Diocese of Biloxi revised and adapted its own policy to be in line with that charter, including measures to create a safe environment for children and young people, cooperating with civil authorities and disciplining offenders.
The Diocese of Biloxi then contracted a company to run background checks on all priests, deacons, employees and volunteers of the diocese. A Safe Environment Training Program also was established, along with a review board that investigated any allegations in the diocese.
A Safe Environment Curriculum was then developed that is still in use today, and the diocese contracted with a new background screening company in 2016. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has revised the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People three times since its inception: 2005, 2011 and 2018.
In September 2018, an on-site audit was conducted on the Diocese of Biloxi in which the diocese was found to be in compliance. The audit showed that 9,211 background checks have been conducted between 2003 and 2015, in addition to 2,887 conducted by Integrated Screening Partners since 2016.
The audit also showed that 88,898 of the diocese’s children have attended age-specific classes on safe environment between 2004 and 2017. In addition, 4,043 employees, 4,443 educators and 15,002 volunteers have been trained using the safe environment curriculum developed by the diocese, and all officials have had background checks and participated in a safe environment program.
“These numbers are staggering, but clearly demonstrate that the Diocese of Biloxi is deeply committed to protecting and safeguarding the most vulnerable among us,” the document reads.
