![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 General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said that blessings spoken in prayer carry enduring consequences, describing them as central to spiritual and material outcomes in the lives of believers.
Adeboye made the remarks on Saturday during the Holy Ghost Congress of the church, which concluded on Sunday with a thanksgiving service. His message focused on the significance of spoken blessings, particularly those uttered in prayer, drawing from biblical accounts to illustrate their lasting impact.
Referring to the story of Isaac and his sons, Jacob and Esau, Adeboye said the narrative showed that even what appeared to be a lesser blessing could still produce tangible results over time.
“If the one who got the least blessing from his father was that blessed, how much more Jacob, who was the first person his father blessed?” he said.
He told the congregation that a father’s blessing could not be reversed and added that, as their spiritual leader, he was pronouncing blessings upon them.
Adeboye also shared a personal experience to underscore what he described as the effect of simple prayers spoken in faith. Recounting an incident during one of his prayer walks earlier in the year, he said he encountered a woman with her child by the roadside and could only offer words of prayer.
“The biggest prayer I can pray for anyone is ‘God bless you,” he said.
“I saw a woman with her child on a piece of cloth. She was hoping that people walking by would see her and give her some money. All I could say was, ‘God bless you.’ I had nothing on me. She said amen.”
According to him, shortly after leaving the woman, he was approached by another individual who presented a first fruit offering, which Adeboye accepted and prayed over.
“The man said he wanted to give me his first fruit. He brought the envelope. I collected it and prayed for him,” he said.
Adeboye said he later discovered the envelope contained a large sum of money, which he believed was linked to the earlier prayer.
“God told me your prayer for that woman is already answered,” he said, adding that he was instructed to return and give the money to her.
He said he found the woman and her child at the same spot and handed over the envelope, describing her reaction as emotional upon seeing its contents.
“The woman took the envelope and looked at it. What she saw in that envelope, she knew she wouldn’t beg again. She was weeping and shouting ‘Jesu oooo’, meaning ‘Oh Jesus’. I too was saying, ‘Oh Jesus,’” he said.
Adeboye told worshippers that the experience reinforced his belief in the impact of spoken blessings, urging them to receive such prayers with faith.
“There is no prayer greater than ‘God bless you,’” he said, encouraging the congregation to respond with “amen” whenever the words are spoken.
![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")
