Diocese of Biloxi Releases Names of Three Clerics Accused of Abuse
We are grateful that Catholic officials have taken this small and belated step forward by disclosing these names. Some of this information has been kept hidden for years, and its release will provide comfort to victims, or family members of victims, who have been suffering alone and in silence.
However, since the Diocese openly acknowledged that it excluded “alleged abuse reported to have happened outside the Diocese by extern clergy who served in the Diocese, or allegations from before the Diocese was founded in 1977,” the list is incomplete on its face. If Bishop Louis F. Kihneman has information related to other abusers that spent time in the Biloxi Diocese, even if they abused elsewhere, then he should immediately release those names as well. Continued secrecy not only endangers today’s children, it also impedes victims’ healing.
We encourage Biloxi officials to continue to add names to their list. We hope that ultimately it will include all clergy who worked in the Diocese, diocesan, extern and order, as well as brothers, women religious and lay employees. We also suggest that it is inappropriate for Bishop Kihneman to use vague and misleading terms like “misconduct” to describe what was in all cases a crime, and in many cases child rape.
We hope anyone who has suffered, witnessed or suffered crimes by Frs. Jose Vazquez Morales, Jerome J. Axton, Vincent The Quang Nguyen, or any others associated with the Catholic Church in Mississippi will call law enforcement. Victims can also reach out to SNAP, or groups like ours, for help and support as they come forward.
CONTACT: Mark Belenchia, SNAP Mississippi Leader (601-953-2535, [email protected]) ( Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director