This report contains the names of all clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of which the Diocese of Jackson is aware. An accusation is considered credible when it has been investigated, presented to our Independent Fitness Review Board and deemed to be specific and believable. Civil authorities determine if an accusation is a crime. Not everyone on this list was charged or convicted of a crime.
The list includes the names of the priests, a list of locations where they served, when the abuse is reported to have happened and when it was reported to the diocese. You may notice a gap between the abuse date and the reporting date. The diocese may not have been aware of the abuse before a priest was moved to another parish. Not all victims report their abuse right away. This is why the work the church is doing to remove the stigma of reporting is so critical. The sooner we know about an allegation, the sooner we can take action to protect those vulnerable to abuse.
You may also notice reports from what is now the Diocese of Biloxi. Look here for information on why and definitions of the different kinds of clergy and ministers as well as information on our current Safe Environment Program.
The Diocese of Jackson has records for close to 1,000 priests who served here during its 180-year history. This investigation examined the files dating back to 1924.
All new credible reports of abuse will be added to this list.