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 A Roman Catholic priest replied “we are but men” when confronted after the son of a woman to whom he was providing spiritual guidance caught the clergyman having sex with his mother, according to court testimony in Texas on Wednesday. That version of events emerged at the second day of the trial of Anthony Odiong, who has been criminally charged with illicitly abusing his status as a clergyman to pursue sex with spiritually vulnerable female congregants. Continue reading...

Ramon Antonio Vargas in Waco, Texas · Wed, May 27, 2026, 12:12 PM
US news | The Guardian

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

A Roman Catholic priest replied “we are but men” when confronted after the son of a woman to whom he was providing spiritual guidance caught the clergyman having sex with his mother, according to court testimony in Texas on Wednesday.

That version of events emerged at the second day of the trial of Anthony Odiong, who has been criminally charged with illicitly abusing his status as a clergyman to pursue sex with spiritually vulnerable female congregants.

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