In a shocking turn of events, Rev. Anthony Odiong, a Catholic priest in Louisiana, has been abruptly removed from his position by the Archdiocese of New Orleans under murky circumstances. The church officials have filed a police report against him, though details have not been disclosed.
Allegations of financial and sexual abuse surfaced in 2019, with a woman accusing Odiong of forcing her to perform sexual acts and stealing thousands of dollars from her. Despite the woman speaking with Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond about the allegations, Odiong announced in November that he would be leaving the church in January to head to Florida. His controversial remarks about the LGBTQ+ community led to his exit date being moved up to immediately.
This incident adds to a string of scandals for the Catholic Church in New Orleans, including cases of known abusers not being held accountable and a former priest sentenced to 25 years in prison for drugging and sexually abusing men.
The New Orleans Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2020 amidst nearly 40 pending sex abuse lawsuits. Archbishop Aymond has asked for prayers as they navigate this challenging time. The allegations against Rev. Anthony Odiong and the actions taken by the Archdiocese highlight ongoing issues and turmoil within the Catholic Church in New Orleans.
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