VA Hospital Chaplain Suspended, Under Investigation

A priest from Nigeria who has been serving as chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital here in Bedford has been suspended by the Archdioceses of the Military and the Archdiocese of Boston as a result of an investigation into personal conduct matters.

Father Luke Odor, of Aba, Nigeria, has been serving as a chaplain at the VA Hospital and residing in the rectory of St. Isidore’s in Stow, according to a statement released today, Nov. 23, by the Archdiocese of Boston.

He is no longer allowed to reside at St. Isidore’s or to function as a priest within the Archdiocese of Boston, although the investigation does not involve either, the statement said.

Odor has been in Stow since 2007, and had his faculties suspended by the Archdiocese of Boston within the past 48 hours, a spokesperson said Friday.

Read the Archdiocese of Boston's statement in full:

“Father Luke Odor is a chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts and his ministry is supervised through the Archdiocese for the Military.  Fr. Odor had been residing in the rectory of St. Isidore’s, Stow. The Archdiocese for the Military has informed us that they have started an investigation into personal conduct matters involving Father Odor.  The investigation does not involve any matters related to Saint Isidore’s Parish or the Archdiocese of Boston. As a result of this action Father Odor’s faculties have been suspended by the Archdiocese for the Military and in keeping with our policies, the Archdiocese of Boston has followed with similar action. As is Archdiocesan policy Father Odor is no longer allowed to reside in the rectory at St. Isidore and he is not allowed to function as a priest within the Archdiocese. The Church prays for all those impacted by these events and thanks Fr. Walter Woods for his ongoing pastoral care of the St. Isidore's parish family.”

Stay tuned to Patch for more on this story as it becomes available.