fullscreen

eFinder

eFinder

Home › Victim Advocacy › Article

Louisiana church remembers abuse victims after reversal over prayers for convicted priest

The Guardian · 🇬🇧 public United Kingdom · · 602 words · By Ramon Antonio Vargas
Victim Advocacy Institutional accountability Clergy Sexual Abuse
headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing
Ready to play
Daily briefing

What to know about Victim Advocacy

A Louisiana Catholic church that solicited prayers for a former pastor recently sentenced to life imprisonment for criminal clerical sexual assault, then backed off, having offended his victims, is asking its community to pray for survivors of clergy abuse.

Claims checked 12
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left17%
Center66%
Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

A Louisiana Catholic church that solicited prayers for a former pastor recently sentenced to life imprisonment for criminal clerical sexual assault, then backed off, having offended his victims, is asking its community to pray for survivors of clergy abuse.

Why it matters

The shift took place in an updated 7 June parochial bulletin published by St Anthony of Padua church in the New Orleans suburb of Luling, Louisiana, where priest Anthony Odiong was pastor from 2015 to late 2023.

Common ground

A state criminal court jury in Waco, Texas, where Odiong previously ministered, convicted him on 29 May of first- and second-degree sexual assault.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/06/louisiana-church-odiong-st-antho…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6
info Single Source 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
info
Claim 1: “St Anthony removed the first iteration of the bulletin from its website after the Guardian asked the local archdiocese about it.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim discusses unrelated topics (San Francisco archbishop, Oregon State Bar, Rwanda genocide) and does not mention the removal of the bulletin following a Guardian inquiry.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Salvatore Cordileone, the San Francisco archbishop, will have to write an apology letter to each survivor as part of the settlement. The settlement also ...
https://snapnetwork.org/in-the-news/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 1, 2025 ... It's time to celebrate the impactful work being done by Oregon attorneys this year. We are profiling the. Oregon State Bar Award winners and ...
https://www.osbar.org/bulletin/issues/2025/2025October/offli…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 17, 2026 ... were backed with enthusiasm by the Catholic church and their former ... formal proceedings began only in November 1995; its first indictment.
https://www.peaceau.org/uploads/report-rowanda-genocide.pdf
check_circle
Claim 2: “It subsequently published a bulletin without Odiong mentioned, with “Special Intention & Victims of Clergy Abuse” in the spot where his name previously was.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the church published a revised bulletin replacing Odiong's name with 'Special Intention & Victims of Clergy Abuse'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — St Anthony of Padua asks for prayers for survivors after removing Anthony Odiong’s name from list of intentions.It subsequently published a bulletin without Odiong mentioned, with “Special Intention &…
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2026/06/louisiana-chur…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — St. Anthony of Padua Church in Luling, a suburb of New Orleans, had originally listed Anthony Odiong in its bulletin of prayer intentions, prompting concern among victims and church officials.
https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/louisiana-chur…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On June 7, St. Anthony’s bulletin included Odiong by name in its list of prayer intentions — a section reserved for people and causes the church asks parishioners to pray for.
https://wegotthiscovered.com/true-crime/louisiana-church-bac…
help
Claim 3: “a statement from the Austin bishop Daniel Garcia – whose diocese includes Waco”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found in the search results regarding Bishop Daniel Garcia of Austin.
check_circle
Claim 4: “St Anthony of Padua church in the New Orleans suburb of Luling, Louisiana, where priest Anthony Odiong was pastor from 2015 to late 2023”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm Anthony Odiong served as pastor at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Luling, Louisiana, from 2015 until December 2023.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Anthony Odiong from St. Anthony of Padua Church in Luling and filed a report with a law enforcement agency about the clergyman.
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2023/12/luling-priest-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Odiong’s career largely continued unimpeded, with him moving on to study in Rome and then transferring in 2015 to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Luling, serving there as pastor until December 2023.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/former-luling-priest-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — After studying in Rome, Odiong moved to Luling in 2015, by which time Aymond had become Archbishop of New Orleans. Church officials in Austin later said they suspended Odiong from ministry in 2019 ove…
https://www.nairaland.com/8681464/nigerian-catholic-priest-a…
check_circle
Claim 5: “Those jurors sentenced him to life in prison on 2 June”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent news reports confirm that Anthony Odiong was sentenced to life in prison on June 2, 2026.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Adaejah Hodge (born 21 March 2006) is a sprinter from the British Virgin Islands. She won the 200 metres titles at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships and 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships and competed a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaejah_Hodge
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Briana Nichole Williams (born March 21, 2002) is a Jamaican-American athlete who competes over 100 metres and 200 metres. She became the youngest athlete to win the women's 100 metres and 200 metres d…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briana_Williams
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sibalom, officially the Municipality of Sibalom, (Kinaray-a: Banwa kang Sibalom; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Sibalom; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sibalom), is a municipality in the province of Antique, Philippine…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibalom
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 6: “A state criminal court jury in Waco, Texas... convicted him on 29 May of first- and second-degree sexual assault.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm a jury in Waco, Texas, convicted Odiong of first- and second-degree sexual assault on May 29.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The second-degree charges could carry from two to 20 years in prison. The jury deliberated for about two hours before coming to the verdict. Odiong, who pleaded not guilty, had initially been charged …
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/29/texas-trial-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Father Anthony Odiong during his sexual assault trial in Waco, Texas, on May 27, 2026. “His weapon was faith,” Calvert said. “Devout faith, sincere faith, faith that is present to this day.
https://www.kwtx.com/2026/05/29/breaking-father-anthony-odio…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — After listening to graphic testimony from several witnesses, the jury found the 57-year-old priest guilty of one charge of sexual assault in the first degree and two in the second degree, in a May 29 …
https://www.ncronline.org/news/priest-gets-life-prison-texas…
help
Claim 7: “its archbishop since February, James Checchio, had “instructed” St Anthony’s incumbent pastor to include “all who were hurt by Odiong’s actions” in the church’s prayers.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found in the search results regarding Archbishop James Checchio's instructions to the pastor.
schedule
Claim 8: “Texas considers such conduct by a religious cleric to be felony sexual assault”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 9: “Mary Doe initiated the criminal case against Odiong after seeing an investigative report from the Guardian in February 2024”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 10: “he illegally exploited his spiritual authority as a clergyman to pursue a years-long sexual relationship with a congregant identified in court proceeding as Mary Doe”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the conviction involved exploiting spiritual authority to have a relationship with a congregant identified as Mary Doe.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Anthony Odiong was convicted of exploiting his spiritual authority as a clergyman for sex with his congregants.Odiong also acknowledged having sex with a congregant in 2008, when he met Mary Doe, and …
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/02/anthony-odio…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Odiong was accused of using his position as a Catholic priest to engage in sexual encounters with women to whom he was providing spiritual guidance. Odiong, who pleaded not guilty, could face life in …
https://chronicle.ng/odiong-us-based-nigerian-catholic-pries…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — During the trial, Mary Doe testified that Odiong initiated a long-term sexual relationship with her while acting as her spiritual adviser as she navigated a difficult divorce and cared for seven child…
https://www.nairaland.com/8681464/nigerian-catholic-priest-a…
info
Claim 11: “he separately compelled a victim given the pseudonym Jane Doe to yield to intercourse with another man to which she did not consent.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia entries for the name 'Anthony' and a footballer, which are irrelevant to the specific criminal allegations against Anthony Odiong. No specific evidence regarding 'Jane Doe' and another man was found in the provided search results.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Anthony, also spelled Antony, is a masculine given name derived from the Antonii, a Roman gens or clan that famously included Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius). The ultimate etymology of the name is unkno…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Antony graduated from the São Paulo academy and made his senior debut for the club in 2018. He moved abroad to Ajax in the summer of 2020, where he won two Eredivisie titles and one KNVB Cup during hi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_(footballer,_born_2000)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jun 3, 2025 · Anthony is often used as a boy's name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Anthony.
https://www.parents.com/anthony-name-meaning-origin-populari…
check_circle
Claim 12: “An initial version of a St Anthony bulletin for the week ending 7 June conspicuously included him by name in a list of intentions”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources confirm that the St. Anthony bulletin for the week ending June 7 included Odiong by name in the list of prayer intentions.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — An initial version of a St Anthony bulletin for the week ending 7 June conspicuously included him by name in a list of intentions – which essentially dedicate prayers for certain people or causes – fo…
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2026/06/louisiana-chur…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On June 7, St. Anthony’s bulletin included Odiong by name in its list of prayer intentions — a section reserved for people and causes the church asks parishioners to pray for.
https://wegotthiscovered.com/true-crime/louisiana-church-bac…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — St. Anthony of Padua Church in Luling, a suburb of New Orleans, had originally listed Anthony Odiong in its bulletin of prayer intentions, prompting concern among victims and church officials. Odiong,…
https://premierchristian.news/us/news/article/louisiana-chur…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.