New Details in Suspension of Bedford VA Chaplain

The Archdiocese for Military Services has removed the faculties of Father Luke Odor, a chaplain with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs employed at the VA Medical Center in Bedford, following allegations of boundary violations against the chaplain. 

The Archdiocese for Military Services has initiated an investigation into the allegations against Odor, which date back to the mid 1990s when Odor was working in the Archdiocese of St. Paul Minneapolis and the Diocese of Fargo, according to a statement released Nov. 25 by the Archdiocese for Military Services.

These allegations follow a Nov. 23 statement by the Archdiocese of Boston barring Odor, of Aba, Nigeria, from functioning as a priest within the Archdiocese.

The allegations do not involve physical sexual abuse, and "appear to have been resolved by all parties," according to the statement.

Odor cannot function as a Catholic priest within the Archdiocese for Military Services until the investigation is complete. 

Reached by phone on Monday, a representative of the VA Hospital's Media Relations Office said the hospital was aware of the investigation. 

"We're going to be supportive of any investigation and see what happens," said Kristin Pressly of the Bedford VA Media Relations Office. 

Stay tuned to Bedford Patch for more details as they become available.