Baylor University

Baylor University, a private Christian university in Waco, Texas, is currently in the news due to legal proceedings involving a Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong. While not directly affiliated with Baylor, the priest's trial for sexual assault and illicitly abusing his clerical status is taking place in Texas, drawing attention to spiritual exploitation within religious communities. Prosecutors have presented evidence that Odiong fathered a child with a congregant around 2023 while working outside New Orleans, and testimony revealed he responded "we are but men" when confronted about a sexual relationship with a spiritual directee. The ongoing trial highlights issues of accountability and the vulnerability of congregants within religious structures, indirectly bringing attention to institutions like Baylor that operate within similar societal and religious contexts in Texas.