St Anthony of Padua Catholic church in Luling, Louisiana, revised its parochial bulletin on June 7, 2026, to solicit prayers for survivors of clergy abuse.
The change came after the church removed the name of a former pastor convicted of sexual assault.
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The initial bulletin had listed the name of former priest Anthony Odiong in a list of mass intentions, prompting criticism from survivors.
Odiong was convicted on May 29 by a Texas state criminal court jury in Waco of first- and second-degree sexual assault.
Jurors sentenced him to life imprisonment on June 2.
The trial established that Odiong exploited his spiritual authority to abuse two victims, identified in court as Mary Doe and Jane Doe, while ministering in Texas and Louisiana.
Survivors noted that the church failed to include a corresponding prayer intention for the healing of his victims.
Jane Doe expressed that the community had not fully processed the extent of the priest's actions.
Mary Doe agreed that while praying for the soul of the convicted priest was acceptable, the victims deserved equal consideration.
Following inquiries regarding the bulletin, the Archdiocese of New Orleans directed the parish to revise the publication to focus on those harmed by the former pastor.
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Archbishop James Checchio instructed the current pastor to include all victims in the parish prayers.
The archdiocese condemned the actions exposed during the trial.
"What Odiong is convicted of is reprehensible, and we are disgusted by the behavior revealed in trial," the Archdiocese of New Orleans said in a statement.
Bishop Daniel Garcia of the Diocese of Austin, which oversees the Waco area where the crimes occurred, also issued a statement.
He urged focus on "the victims, their families, law enforcement, investigators and the community."
Garcia expressed hope that the conclusion of the criminal trial would provide some measure of closure to those affected.
"I pray that this process has brought them some peace," he said.
He noted that the recovery process for the survivors and the community remains an ongoing journey. "The longer process of healing continues," Garcia said.
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Mary Doe brought the allegations to law enforcement after reading a February 2024 investigative report detailing accusations of sexual coercion and financial control against Odiong, which constitutes felony sexual assault under Texas law.
