Church to Acknowledge Former Houston Priest’s Abusive Past, Houston Chronicle, November 18, 2011

Church to Acknowledge Former Houston Priest’s Abusive Past

Houston Chronicle
November 18, 2011

http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/11/church-to-acknowledge-former-houston-priests-abusive-past/

Holy Rosary Catholic Church (Chronicle file)

This Sunday, Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Midtown will hear from a representative of the church’s Dominican Order regarding the sexual abuse claims made against their former pastor.

The Rev. Joseph Tu Ngoc Nyugen was removed from the parish in 2006, following allegations that date back to the 1970s, when Tu served in Fort Worth. He had been a priest in Houston for 12 years.

The six female victims, from Arlington, recently settled with the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Dominican Order. Part of their settlement included making public statements acknowledging Tu’s history of abuse.

“This is to be very transparent and decry any wrongdoing by a member of the church,” said the Rev. Christopher Eggleton, who will deliver the remarks to Holy Rosary on behalf of the Southern Dominican Province at the 12:30 p.m. service.

The Houston Press reported Friday on Tu’s case:

Tu’s personnel records, which he had fought for years to keep from being released, reveal a long list of complaints and the usual cover-ups.

In addition to public acknowledgment in the churches where Tu served, the October settlement states that Tu’s privileges with the Dominicans are permanently removed. He’s under a friar’s direct supervision and is not allowed to leave the Priory or be around kids without supervision. (Until and unless he’s laicized by the Vatican, he’s still a priest; he just can’t do anything). The settlement also provided for the removal of all references to Tu from St. Matthew’s web site, as well as “any pictures…or plaques” of Tu from the parish premises.