![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has dismissed the concept of the “prosperity gospel,” a Christian belief that financial blessing and physical well-being are always God’s will for believers.
Prof. Osinbajo, a pastor, stated that no such doctrine exists in Christian teaching while responding to Korede Komaiya, the presiding pastor of The Master’s Place International Church, during their appearance at a live debate held at Rock of Ages Christian Assembly International (RACAi).
Speaking on the debate topic, the prosperity gospel, Mr. Komaiya said he found it difficult when people complained about it.
He added that he was unsure whether some churches preached giving without diligence, noting that it is biblical to encourage giving while maintaining balance.
He said, “I don’t even understand what people are saying. Excuse me, I can’t get it. Biblical prosperity is correct, authentic, original, godly, and is to be used for the sake of the gospel; God prospers His own. It is activated by giving. You are not to be greedy. You are to work. You are to labour. You are to be intelligent. You are to have value; you are to be a tither. You are to have a ministry. You are to have a prophet. You are to give to people in need and to people experiencing poverty.
“The covenant is the covenant, economic situation notwithstanding, circumstances notwithstanding. My submission is this: let’s come back to balance. You practice the covenant; you embrace productivity. You embrace engagement; we can’t go to the extreme. You can’t just give. You must give sacrificially. You must work as if everything depends on it. Giving alone can’t do it; working alone can’t do it. A combination of the two is what makes the gospel work.”
Meanwhile, Prof. Osinbajo, 69, countered Mr. Komaiya, stating that there is only the gospel of Christ.
The former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice stressed that attempts to redefine it in terms of material wealth misrepresent its true message.
“The New Testament, no matter how we slice it—we may call it anything—the prosperity gospel, with all due respect, there is no such thing. There is only one gospel: the gospel of Jesus Christ, whose words are contained in scripture. Anything else is a perversion. There are many types of success.
“The example that the pastor gave is interesting. While some people may be bribed, that does not detract from the fact that when Jesus Christ, the author of our faith, was tempted by Satan with material offers, He refused. That is the ultimate message of the Bible,” Osinbajo said.
The lawyer added that the Bible’s ultimate message is that truth will prevail, no matter how long it takes.
According to him, the gospel will prevail, regardless of what anyone does or who falls.
Furthermore, Osinbajo maintained that scripture makes it clear that many will be swayed by bribery and fall for money, but only the truth of the gospel will sustain people to the end.
He added that he has been in ministry since 1996 and has rarely encountered churches where giving is not a prominent part of the service.
He noted, “If you read the scriptures carefully, especially the New Testament, you will see how often Jesus spoke about giving to the poor—that giving to the poor means giving to God.
“The sheer number of times this is mentioned is striking. But if we are honest, how often is it preached? There is usually a portion of the service dedicated to it before the offering. The question is: why do we not emphasise what scripture says?”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
