Anthony Odiong’s Name Removed From Louisiana Chapel After Texas Jury Convicts Him on Sexual Assault Charges
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 30
Anthony Odiong’s Name Removed From Louisiana Chapel After Texas Jury Convicts Him on Sexual Assault Charges
6 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 30
Black tape covered Anthony Odiong’s name at the Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel in Luling, Louisiana, hours after a Texas jury convicted the 57-year-old priest on clergy sexual assault charges.
Jurors in Waco deliberated about 2 hours before finding him guilty on all pending charges tied to two women, a verdict that leaves him facing up to life imprisonment at sentencing set to begin three days later.
Prosecutors said the case reflected a broader pattern: multiple women accused Odiong of using his spiritual authority to pursue sex, including Luling parishioners and a woman who bore his daughter after meeting him through his ministry.
The chapel itself underscored the reversal. Odiong had raised about $600,000 to build and open it in 2020, but his inscriptions were obscured while the names of two alleged survivors still remained visible outside.
The conviction makes Odiong at least the fifth clergyman serving in the New Orleans archdiocese to plead guilty or be convicted of sexual violence since the church’s wider abuse reckoning.
How did a priest banned in Texas continue preying on women in Louisiana for four more years?
What Texas law allowed prosecutors to convict a priest for crimes committed more than a decade ago?
With new laws voiding secret settlements, are more church abuse scandals about to be exposed?
Anthony Odiong Verdict: Texas Jury Finds Catholic Priest Guilty Amid Calls for Church Accountability and Reform
Overview
On May 29, 2026, after a brief jury deliberation, Roman Catholic priest Anthony Odiong was found guilty of first-degree and second-degree sexual assault in Waco, Texas. The trial featured testimony from two women, while a third potential witness was unable to appear due to emotional distress, leading prosecutors to dismiss one charge. Odiong’s conviction highlights a pattern of abuse and the misuse of spiritual authority, prompting immediate action from the Diocese of Austin to bar him from ministry. The case underscores the importance of recent Texas laws addressing clergy sexual misconduct and reveals ongoing challenges for the Catholic Church in protecting vulnerable adults.