FORT WORTH (TX)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
By DARREN BARBEE
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
FORT WORTH -- An Arlington woman said Tuesday that she, her sister and her family never backed away from sexual misconduct accusations against a former Arlington priest.
Roman Catholic officials have said that the woman's family confirmed there was no "sexual abuse" involving the Rev. Joseph Tu Ngoc Nguyen.
Based on a separate allegation, Tu was suspended Sunday from his duties at the Houston parish where he has served since 1994, officials said. Tu has been temporarily removed and is presumed innocent, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston said. Tu, who declined comment Tuesday, has been accused by three girls and three women of sexual misconduct in the 1970s and '80s.
It was the second suspension for Tu, a member of the Dominican Order.
The first came in 1993, after the Arlington woman told Fort Worth diocese officials about incidents that she said happened when she was 7 or 8 years old, in the late 1970s.
The woman, who asked not to be identified, said Tu took her and her sister into his office, closed the door, held them both closely and repeatedly kissed them.