Catholic priest said ‘we are but men’ when challenged over sex with spiritual directee, court hears
Anthony Odiong, 57, charged in Texas with exploiting status to pursue sex with vulnerable female congregants
TL;DR
- Anthony Odiong, a Catholic priest, is on trial in Waco, Texas, for allegedly abusing his position to pursue sex with female congregants.
- A son testified that he caught Odiong with his mother in 2011, and Odiong responded by saying, 'we are but men.'
- The trial involves testimony from at least two other women who claim Odiong exploited his spiritual authority.
- Prosecutors argue that Texas law considers it assault for clergymen to exploit congregants' emotional dependency for sexual conduct.
- Odiong has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault and could face life imprisonment if convicted.