[News] Same-sex marriage: Parishioner condemns removal and persecution of US-based Nigerian Catholic priest over homophobic comments

A parishioner, Doug Dulock, has decried the alleged persecution of a Nigerian priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong of St. Mary Church of the Assumption Catholic Parish in Luling, Louisiana, New Orleans, United States of America over alleged homophobic remarks.

 

The Archdiocese of New Orleans abruptly dismissed Rev. Fr. Odiong in December 2023, filed a report with a law enforcement agency about the clergyman and asked him to leave the rectory where had been for several years.

 

The New Orleans archbishop, Gregory Aymond, told Odiong’s bishop in Nigeria to recall him to his home diocese “as soon as possible to address these concerns”, officials said in a statement.

 

Odiong’s dismissal came shortly after a November 26, 2023 mass, during which he made disparaging remarks about LGBTQ people.

 

He has been preaching against same-sex marriage, homosexuality, and other teachings that do not go down well with the church authority in the US.

 

Odiong, who was ordained a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State before he travelled to the United States, reportedly likened members of the LGBTQ community to “monkeys and animals and chimpanzees” in the sermon and warned of a purported takeover of the church.

 

The archdiocese’s statement did not deny that it found Odiong’s remarks to be problematic and suggested that the comments may have expedited a departure originally scheduled for January.

 

“Unfortunately, Father Anthony’s words and actions since being informed of this decision have led us to take action to relieve him as a pastor now,” the statement added.

 

The statement didn’t disclose any details about what they reported to law enforcement but they said their “concerns” about Odiong didn’t involve the abuse of minors or a member of the St. Anthony Parish.

 

However, according to The Guardian, the priest is facing allegations of abusive behaviour.

 

A woman who claimed to have known the priest since 2007 has accused him of years of controlling, manipulative and lewd behaviour that included sexual and financial abuse, her attorney, Kristi Schubert, said.

 

Odiong’s attorney, Stephen Haedicke, said that his client categorically denies the false allegations that have been made against him.

 

“Here, not a single law enforcement agency has taken this accuser seriously, a fact which goes a long way towards showing her claims are simply unworthy of belief,” Haedicke said.