Catholic diocese names priests accused of misconduct

Published 6:00 pm Thursday, January 24, 2019

A Catholic diocese in Mississippi has released its list of clergy credibly accused of sexual misconduct with minors.

The Diocese of Biloxi said Thursday three priests faced such allegations since the diocese was founded in 1977.

The priests listed were Jose Vazquez Morales, Jerome J. Axton and Vincent the Quang Nguyen.

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Morales pleaded guilty to sexual battery against a juvenile male in 2015 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The other two were accused of misconduct with female juveniles and were prohibited from continuing in the ministry. Both were accused in 1989. Nguyen was prohibited from the ministry in 1989, Axton in 1992.

The diocese says all three were prohibited from the ministry and allegations were reported to authorities.

The Diocese of Jackson is expected later this year to release information on priests in the area accused prior to that.