A Catholic church in Louisiana has faced criticism for requesting prayers for a former pastor who was recently convicted of sexual assault while omitting any mention of his victims in its bulletin.

Anthony Odiong, a Roman Catholic priest who previously served at St Anthony of Padua church in Luling, Louisiana, was convicted in Waco, Texas of criminal clergy sexual assault and sentenced to life in prison. The conviction involved crimes against his congregants.

Following Odiong's guilty verdict, St Anthony of Padua church published a parochial bulletin soliciting prayers on behalf of the convicted priest. The bulletin did not acknowledge or request prayers for the survivors of his crimes.

One of the two women Odiong was convicted of assaulting, identified in court proceedings as Mary Doe, issued a statement on Tuesday. She encouraged the Luling church community to also pray for his victims.

The case has drawn attention to how religious institutions respond to clergy sexual assault convictions and their treatment of both perpetrators and survivors in their communications to parishioners.