NEW ORLEANS (LA)
AsatuNews [Abuja, Nigeria]
May 1, 2026
By Rizky Mahendra
The Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans is preparing to strip the name of Anthony Odiong from a Louisiana chapel following felony charges alleging the priest sexually abused three female congregants in Waco, Texas, as reported by The Guardian.
Odiong, 57, faces a criminal trial tentatively scheduled for May 26, 2026, involving allegations that he exploited the emotional dependency of women who sought his spiritual guidance. The priest has remained in custody on $5.5 million bail since his initial arrest in July 2024.
The removal of inscriptions from Our Lady of Guadalupe Healing Chapel in Luling complies with a bankruptcy settlement reached by the archdiocese. This legal agreement requires the elimination of public recognition for any clergy members facing credible abuse accusations on archdiocesan properties.
While the archdiocese has not commented on the specific details of the case, officials confirmed the policy regarding public mentions of accused clergymen is a direct result of the settlement. Odiong had previously raised $600,000 to construct the chapel, which opened in 2020.
A marble donor slab at the Luling facility currently features a statement from the priest regarding the project’s spiritual significance.
“The Mission of building Mother Mary’s house in Luling, Louisiana, is a labor of love.” said Anthony Odiong, Priest.
The investigation into Odiong intensified after multiple women reported instances of sexual coercion and abusive financial control. Prosecutors later revealed evidence suggesting the priest fathered a child with a woman met through his ministry, violating his vow of celibacy.
Under current Catholic policy, a vulnerable adult is defined by specific intellectual or psychological disabilities. However, the charges against Odiong coincide with an ongoing debate within the church to expand this definition to include individuals under a priest’s spiritual authority.
“all plaques, pictures, statues or other public recognition” according to the New Orleans archdiocese bankruptcy settlement provision.
Texas authorities have charged Odiong with five counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault. If convicted of the first-degree charges, the priest faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Odiong was prohibited from ministering in New Orleans in December 2023 following reports of clerical misconduct. He was later apprehended in Florida in July 2024 before being transferred to Texas to face the current criminal proceedings.