WACO — A jury in Waco, Texas, found Catholic priest Anthony Odiong guilty of criminal clergy sexual assault of two women on May 29, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment in early June. One woman, identified in court proceedings as Mary Doe, reported Odiong to Waco authorities in March 2024. Another woman, identified as Jane Doe, reported that Odiong convinced her to engage in a form of intercourse with another man to which she did not legally consent.

The Archdiocese of Austin received the first known complaint against Odiong in 2011. In that year, a teenage boy reported that his mother was having a sexual relationship with Odiong. Michael Sis, a vicar general in the Austin diocese in 2011, determined that Odiong's closeness to the boy's mother was highly imprudent. The teenage boy later recanted his report, stating that he was worried his mother would lose her job at Baylor University, where Odiong worked in campus ministry. Odiong had a child with a woman to whom he ministered.

Joe Vásquez, the bishop of Austin in 2018, wrote to Archbishop Gregory Aymond regarding Odiong's history of complaints. He requested that Odiong refrain from engaging in ministry in Austin. The Austin diocese notified the New Orleans archdiocese of the initial complaint and three other complaints against Odiong in 2018. At this time, Odiong was pastor of St Anthony of Padua church in Luling, Louisiana. Aymond and Bishop John Ayah authorized Odiong to continue in this role until 2021.

A fifth woman alleged sexual misconduct by Odiong to the New Orleans archdiocese in 2019. James Misko, a vicar general in the Austin diocese, warned Odiong in writing in 2019 to refrain from ministry. Misko stated that refusing to respect Joe Vásquez's wishes "may compel us to advise others of your restrictions, making this situation more public than you may wish." Odiong apologized after receiving Misko's warning.

In 2021, Aymond notified Odiong that he was welcome to remain in his role at St Anthony of Padua for at least another six years. Aymond wrote, "You have served … with fidelity and dedication." He also wrote, "Thank you for … the faithful way in which you continue to carry out the ministry of Jesus Christ today."

Odiong delivered a homily in November 2023, referring to members of the LGBTQ+ community as 'monkeys and animals and chimpanzees'. The New Orleans archdiocese suspended him from ministering locally after November 2023. The archdiocese stated it suspended Odiong primarily over complaints of misconduct with multiple women, adding that his anti-LGBTQ+ comments hurt his standing. The New Orleans archdiocese asked Bishop John Ayah to recall Odiong to Nigeria. Aymond's age-mandated retirement was in February.