A Texas jury on Friday convicted Catholic priest Anthony Odiong of repeated sexual assault against adult women, marking a significant legal victory for victims who say the church failed to protect them. The first woman to publicly accuse Odiong, identified in court as Hadassah Doe, expressed relief and hope that the conviction would prevent further abuse.
Victim's Statement and Gratitude
In a statement released on Saturday, Hadassah Doe said she was grateful to the jury for listening to the evidence and seeing the truth. She added, "I can only hope he is kept from continuing to use faith as his net, his snare, and a tool to manipulate current and future victims." The four-day trial in Waco, Texas, resulted in guilty verdicts on first- and second-degree sexual assault charges involving two other women, known as Mary Doe and Jane Doe.
Allegations of Church Inaction
Hadassah Doe criticized church officials, including those in southeastern Louisiana where Odiong last ministered, for failing to act on her earlier reports. She said they "could have prevented a lot of suffering and pain" if they had listened to her attempts to report him years prior. According to the Guardian and WWL Louisiana, Doe first met Odiong in 2007 while he studied for a master's degree in theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.
Abuse During Confession and Mass
Doe described how Odiong positioned himself as her spiritual counselor and initiated a years-long physical relationship. He persuaded her to perform sexual acts during the sacrament of confession, at private masses in her home, and in at least one motel room, claiming it would ensure her salvation. She also accused him of stealing money and disparaging her as crazy when she refused his demands.
Failed Reporting to Church and Authorities
By late 2018, Doe had mostly cut off contact with Odiong after he transferred to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Luling, Louisiana. In 2019, she reported him to the New Orleans archdiocese's abuse hotline and spoke with a local sheriff's detective. However, the investigator deemed the relationship personal and not illegal in Louisiana, leading to no action by church or state authorities.
Public Disclosure and Denials
Hadassah Doe and her attorney, Kristi Schubert, shared her story publicly in December 2023 after the New Orleans archdiocese suspended Odiong over misconduct with multiple women. Odiong's attorney at the time dismissed the allegations as "categorically false" and "outlandish," while Odiong himself called Doe "a mentally unstable woman" and accused the Guardian of a "false, salacious, one-sided smear campaign."
Other Victims Come Forward
Following Hadassah's account, another woman, Jane Doe, contacted the Guardian to vouch for the story and share her own abusive experience with Odiong. She said he directed her to submit to painful intercourse to save her marriage, which ultimately failed. Church officials in Waco had banned Odiong from ministering there by 2019 due to misconduct allegations and notified New Orleans counterparts, but no action was taken.
Investigation and Trial
Mary Doe, a third victim, brought the Guardian's reporting to Waco police, leading to an investigation. She testified that Odiong began a sexual relationship with her in 2008 after providing spiritual direction during her divorce. The relationship ended in 2011 when her son walked in on them and reported it to a neighbor, who informed church officials. Despite this, Odiong's career continued unimpeded until the Texas investigation.
Prosecution and Verdict
Prosecutors Ryan Calvert and Liz Buice presented evidence that Odiong fathered a child in 2023 with a congregant he counseled in Luling. The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for only two hours before finding Odiong guilty. He now faces up to life imprisonment, with sentencing scheduled to begin on Monday.
Victim's Ongoing Struggle
Hadassah Doe praised the prosecution as "superb" and "succinct" and awaits the sentencing outcome. She also has a pending claim for damages as part of the New Orleans archdiocese's bankruptcy case, which in December agreed to pay $305 million to abuse survivors. In her bankruptcy claim, she wrote, "The abuse has completely ruined my life and self-confidence. I have repeated nightmares of Fr Odiong abusing me."
