Texas Priest Convicted of Sexual Assault: The Rise and Fall of Anthony Odiong

On May 30, 2026, a Waco jury found former Catholic priest Anthony Odiong guilty of first-degree and second-degree sexual assault involving Jane Doe and Mary Doe. The four-day trial began May 27; deliberations lasted two hours. Sentencing is set for three days later.

The Guardian

Odiong served as pastor at St. Anthony of Padua in Waco before moving to Luling, Louisiana, in 2015, where he raised about $600,000 to build the Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel, opened 2020. Allegations date to 2008 (Mary Doe) and 2010 (Jane Doe). Waco officials barred him in 2019; the New Orleans archdiocese suspended him in late 2023. Other accusers include Lisa Smith, Presley Jones, two unnamed Luling congregants, and an anonymous survivor. Timeline: 2008 – first assault; 2010 – second assault; 2015 – relocation; 2019 – ban; 2020 – chapel opening; 2023 – suspension; 2026 – trial and conviction.

The Guardian

The chapel cost $600,000, primarily from parish donations. Six named accusers—Jane Doe, Mary Doe, Lisa Smith, Presley Jones, two Luling congregants—plus an anonymous survivor have been identified. Texas law permits prosecution regardless of elapsed time, allowing the 2026 trial. The conviction underscores clergy abuse concerns, triggers removal of Odiong’s name, and prompts donor-oversight review.

The Guardian

The New Orleans archdiocese suspended Odiong in late 2023 over misconduct allegations. Waco officials confirmed a 2019 ban and informed the archdiocese. Following the verdict, local leaders confirmed his name’s removal from the chapel pedestal. Survivors and advocates criticize the delayed public removal and cite Odiong’s earlier anti-LGBTQ+ remarks, arguing institutional inertia enabled abuse.

The Guardian

Observers noted black tape over Odiong’s name on the chapel pedestal, leaving only Lisa Smith’s and an anonymous survivor’s names visible. The engraved quotes remain beneath the tape. Sources do not disclose the total number of alleged victims, and details of Odiong’s anti-LGBTQ+ comments are not fully documented.

The Guardian

• “The Mission of building Mother Mary’s house in Luling, Louisiana is a labor of love.” — Anthony Odiong, chapel inscription

The Guardian

• “I am love and mercy itself. When a soul approaches me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.” — Inscribed on chapel pedestal

The Guardian

Odiong faces a potential life sentence at the upcoming sentencing hearing. Church officials intend to permanently remove his name and review donor contributions to the chapel. Additional investigations into other clergy in the region may follow.

The Guardian