A Catholic priest accused of misconduct was suspended in Texas. Why did New Orleans let him preach?
- Victor Nwoko
- Feb 22, 2024
- 2 min read
A Catholic priest, removed from his position at a New Orleans-area church in December due to allegations of misconduct involving multiple women, was similarly barred from working in and around Texas’s capital in 2019, according to a letter from a diocesan official.
The circumstances surrounding Anthony Odiong's continued ministry without the knowledge of parishioners remain unclear. The Austin diocese, the first to suspend Odiong, claimed to have informed the New Orleans archdiocese, which stated it acted in accordance with legal and ecclesiastical protocols but offered no further details.
Odiong’s removal from New Orleans adds to a series of scandals for the US’s second-oldest Catholic diocese, which filed for bankruptcy in 2020 amid litigation stemming from the church’s global clerical molestation crisis. Previous reports have highlighted controversies within the organization, revealing efforts to conceal abusive behavior by certain priests and deacons.
Authorities in Austin emphasized that Odiong has been unauthorized to minister there for years, as he defies directives to return to the Nigerian diocese that ordained him, the only entity with substantial disciplinary authority over him under Catholic church policy.
Recently, Odiong convened a meeting near Austin with numerous supporters, outlining plans to oversee chapels at a Catholic university in Florida while soliciting financial assistance. Although the Florida role would technically be non-clerical, Odiong indicated he would leverage his clerical experience.
In correspondence with a woman alleging misconduct by Odiong, the Austin diocese advised parishioners to avoid events where he would be present or leading and urged caution regarding financial support.
Allegations against Odiong highlight the Catholic church’s hesitance to acknowledge power differentials between parishioners and priests who exploit their spiritual authority for physical gain, contrary to vows of celibacy.
While Vatican policy defines sexual misconduct with children and vulnerable adults as clerical abuse, some advocate expanding the definition of vulnerable adults to include those subject to priests' spiritual influence, particularly after the expulsion of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2019 for sexual misconduct.
Supporters of this stance argue that professions like teaching or healthcare face repercussions for seeking sexual relations with individuals under their care due to inherent power imbalances, similar to those between priests and parishioners.
However, Texas law, while acknowledging the impossibility of consensual relationships between clergy and emotionally dependent adults, seldom leads to criminal charges in such cases.
One woman, recounting her experience with Odiong, emphasized the unequal footing between herself and the priest, criticizing the Catholic church's response.
Ordained in Uyo, Nigeria, in 1993, Odiong became pastor at St Anthony of Padua in Luling, Louisiana, around 2015. Despite allegations against him, he continued his ministry, drawing attention from diocesan officials in Austin and New Orleans.
The failure to disclose information about Odiong's behavior, despite promises of transparency, raises concerns about the church’s handling of clerical misconduct cases.
Recent media coverage prompted a third accuser to come forward, sharing encounters that led to Odiong’s eventual removal from Louisiana.
These allegations underscore the need for accountability within the Catholic church and its duty to protect parishioners from exploitation by those in positions of authority.
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