New Orleans archdiocese plans on removing priest’s name from chapel as his Texas sexual abuse trial looms
The New Orleans archdiocese plans to remove priest Anthony Odiong's name from a chapel he helped build as he faces a criminal trial in Texas for allegedly sexually abusing three female congregants. Odiong, accused of exploiting his role as a spiritual adviser, has denied wrongdoing and remains in custody on $5.5 million bail. The removal aligns with a broader settlement requiring the archdiocese to erase public recognition of clergy with credible abuse allegations.
- ▪Anthony Odiong is accused of sexually abusing three women in Waco, Texas, by exploiting their emotional dependency as their spiritual adviser.
- ▪Odiong helped raise $600,000 to build Our Lady of Guadalupe Healing Chapel in Luling, Louisiana, which now bears inscriptions with his name.
- ▪The archdiocese agreed to remove all public recognition of credibly accused clergy as part of a bankruptcy settlement related to the wider clerical abuse scandal.
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Anthony Odiong after his arrest in Florida on 16 July 2024. Photograph: Waco policeView image in fullscreenAnthony Odiong after his arrest in Florida on 16 July 2024. Photograph: Waco policeNew Orleans clergy abuseNew Orleans archdiocese plans on removing priest’s name from chapel as his Texas sexual abuse trial loomsAnthony Odiong is accused of sexually abusing three spiritually vulnerable female congregants in WacoRamon Antonio VargasFri 1 May 2026 07.00 EDTLast modified on Fri 1 May 2026 07.02 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GooglePlans are under way for the Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans to remove a priest’s name from a chapel he helped build outside the city as a criminal trial looms in Texas for the clergyman on criminal charges that he sexually abused three spiritually…
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