A woman who was the first to publicly accuse Nigerian-born Catholic priest Anthony Odiong of sexual misconduct has welcomed his recent conviction in Texas, expressing hope that the verdict will prevent him from exploiting other women through his religious position.
Speaking after a Texas jury found Odiong guilty of sexual assault, the woman, identified in court records as Hadassah Doe, said she was grateful that jurors carefully examined the evidence and reached what she described as the truth.
She stated that she hopes the conviction will stop the priest from using faith and spiritual authority to manipulate future victims.
According to her, learning about the experiences shared by other women during the trial was deeply painful, particularly because earlier reports about his conduct were allegedly ignored by church officials.
Hadassah said many of the women’s experiences could have been avoided if concerns she raised years ago had been properly addressed.
Her allegations date back to 2007 when she met Odiong while he was pursuing theological studies in Ohio.
She claimed he became her spiritual adviser and gradually developed an inappropriate relationship with her that lasted for years.
According to her account, he persuaded her to engage in sexual acts under the guise of spiritual guidance, telling her such actions would help secure her salvation.
She also accused Anthony Odiong of taking money from her and dismissing her as mentally unstable whenever she resisted his demands.
The relationship reportedly deteriorated by late 2018 after Odiong left Texas and became pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Luling, Louisiana.
In 2019, Hadassah contacted the Archdiocese of New Orleans through its abuse-reporting hotline and also spoke with law enforcement officials.
However, authorities reportedly viewed the matter as a personal relationship rather than a criminal offence under Louisiana law, and no action was taken at the time.
The allegations became public in December 2023 through media reports after the Archdiocese of New Orleans announced that Anthony Odiong had been suspended over allegations involving multiple women.
At the time, his legal representatives denied the accusations, describing them as false and unbelievable.
Odiong also publicly rejected the claims, characterising his accuser as mentally unstable.
The publicity surrounding Hadassah’s allegations prompted another woman, later identified in court documents as Jane Doe, to come forward.
Jane said she experienced similar misconduct while seeking spiritual counselling from Odiong during difficulties in her marriage.
She alleged that the priest manipulated her into engaging in sexual activities, claiming it would help save her marriage.
Jane also disclosed that church officials in the Waco area had privately restricted Odiong’s ministry by 2019 because of misconduct complaints and had informed church leaders in Louisiana of the decision.
Jane’s account later inspired a third woman, identified as Mary Doe, to report her own experiences to Waco police.
Mary alleged that a sexual relationship with Odiong began in 2008 while she was receiving spiritual guidance during a difficult divorce and continued for several years.
The relationship reportedly came to light when one of her children unexpectedly discovered them together and informed a neighbour, who subsequently alerted church authorities. Despite the report, Odiong continued serving in ministry.
Texas authorities later launched an investigation that led to criminal charges involving Mary and Jane Doe.
During the four-day trial, prosecutors also presented evidence that Odiong fathered a child in 2023 with a congregant whom he had been counselling in Louisiana.
After deliberating for roughly two hours, the jury convicted Odiong on the charges before it. He now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, with sentencing proceedings scheduled to follow the guilty verdict.
Hadassah praised the prosecution team for what she described as a clear and effective presentation of the case. She said she is now awaiting the court’s sentencing decision.
She is also pursuing compensation through the bankruptcy proceedings involving the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The archdiocese and its insurers agreed to a $305 million settlement with hundreds of abuse survivors, although payments are not expected to begin until later in the year.
In documents filed as part of that process, Hadassah said the abuse had devastated her confidence and continued to affect her daily life. She stated that she still suffers recurring nightmares about her experiences with the priest.
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