![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")
The founder of Kingdom Life Network and Abel Damina Ministries International, Pastor Abel Damina, has responded to a recent statement made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, about his chances of getting into heaven.
Speaking with journalists aboard Air Force One on October 12, 2025, Trump said, “I don’t think there’s anything that will get me into heaven. I think maybe I am not heaven-bound.”
The remark, which has drawn widespread attention in both religious and political circles, prompted a direct response from Pastor Damina. Addressing the US president in a 14-minute video posted on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Friday, October 24, 2025, the cleric offered a biblical perspective on salvation and faith.
“This message is primarily for the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump,” Damina began. “No mortal man can make heaven. How can an imperfect man be in a perfect relationship with a perfect God? How can mortal man relate with an immortal God?”
He explained that humanity could not attain salvation through personal effort, wealth, or good deeds. “If a man will die for himself, the death of a sinner is of no eternal value. It will take a sinless one to redeem the sinner, and no man was sinless,” he said.
Quoting Bible verses, Damina continued, “God looked at the oil wells of the Niger Delta, they couldn’t pay for man. He looked at the gold mines of Ghana, they couldn’t pay for man. God looked at the rare minerals of America and the diamond mines of Congo, they couldn’t pay for man. But God loves man, so God became a man in Jesus to die on man’s behalf. That is the love of God expressed.”
He added that salvation is found only in faith in Jesus Christ. “Mr President, sir, all man is required to do is to believe. Once you believe in that one time eternal sacrifice of Jesus—his death, burial, and resurrection, your sins are forgiven, and you will no longer come into condemnation,” he said.
Damina emphasised that salvation comes “by faith alone in Christ alone,” stressing that no amount of human effort or moral uprightness could earn eternal life. “All religions in the world attempt to help man arrive at salvation by works, by efforts, but no effort is good enough. The wages of sin is death, and the death of a sinner is useless. But God loves man,” he said.
He concluded by stating that once a person accepts Christ, a new spiritual relationship begins. “From that moment, the Holy Spirit dwells in you, your sins are totally forgiven, and the consciousness of sin is deleted. Then you enjoy the liberty and assurance of salvation,” he said.
Trump, known for his bold and often controversial remarks, has previously identified as a Presbyterian and spoken about his Christian faith on several occasions. However, his comments about heaven mark one of his rare public reflections on personal salvation.
Recall that In a recent sermon, Damina declared, ‘No offering goes to heaven; it is men that spend it,’ reinforcing his message that salvation is not bought through human effort. As he directed his counsel toward the US president, this point echoed: true redemption lies in faith alone.
![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")
