The New Orleans Saints NFL team finds itself embroiled in a scandal that is certain to cause reputational damage. It has been revealed that they were extensively involved in assisting the New Orleans Catholic Archdiocese with damage control during a clergy sexual abuse crisis. Hundreds of internal emails reveal that Saints executives played a more significant role than previously known in a public relations campaign to mitigate fallout from the scandal.
Key aspects of the Saints’ involvement include:
- Team officials were among the first to view a list of suspected pedophile priests before its public release.
- A Saints spokesman reportedly influenced the removal of certain names from the list of accused clergymen.
- The team’s president drafted questions for the archbishop to prepare for media interviews.
- Saints executives provided updates and guidance on media interactions to church leaders.
The Saints had previously claimed to have provided only “minimal” assistance to the church, but these emails contradict that assertion. The team’s involvement has sparked controversy and criticism, particularly from survivors of clergy sexual abuse who feel betrayed by the organization’s actions.
The Story That Broke Today
In the aftermath of the Catholic Church in New Orleans releasing a list of clergy accused of sexual abuse, a surprising partnership emerged between church leaders and the front office of the city’s NFL team, the New Orleans Saints. This alliance, previously kept under wraps, was revealed through hundreds of internal emails obtained by The Associated Press, which show how team executives played an active role in managing the public relations crisis.
The extensive correspondence, which the Saints and the church had fought to keep confidential, unveils a closer collaboration than anyone had previously known. It highlights the Saints’ involvement in a behind-the-scenes damage control effort to soften the blow from the clergy abuse revelations, an initiative spearheaded by Saints owner Gayle Benson, a devout Catholic who shares a longstanding relationship with New Orleans’ archbishop.
The crisis-management strategy unfolded over several months, culminating in the church’s release of its list of accused priests in early 2018. What followed was a coordinated public relations campaign involving Saints’ executives, local media, and even influential legal figures. The effort was designed to shield the church from further damage, both to its public image and its finances, as it faced mounting litigation from abuse survivors.
Among the key revelations in the emails:
- Saints executives, including President Dennis Lauscha, had direct influence on church messaging. Lauscha drafted detailed talking points for Archbishop Gregory Aymond, preparing him for the media scrutiny that would follow the release of the list.
- The Saints’ PR team was involved in reviewing the list of accused clergy before it was made public. Emails show team officials were some of the first people outside the church to see the list, which was widely criticized for omitting several known perpetrators.
- The Saints’ spokesman briefed top officials on sensitive calls with local authorities. In one instance, a team spokesperson updated Lauscha on a conversation with the district attorney about the clergy list, even mentioning that the call led to certain names being “taken off” the list before it was made public.
The Saints’ involvement in this matter contradicts earlier assertions from the team that it had only provided “minimal” assistance. The newly uncovered emails suggest the team’s role was far more extensive, involving strategic guidance, media engagement, and political maneuvering to protect the church and its leaders from scandal.
Community and Legal Figures Lend Support
The correspondence also reveals a broader collaboration between New Orleans institutions. U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey, a prominent local figure and Catholic, was copied on several email exchanges where he expressed his support for the church’s handling of the crisis. Zainey, who later ruled on key legal matters related to clergy abuse, praised the church’s messaging and even suggested the archbishop was leading the way in addressing past wrongs.
Similarly, local media outlets were brought into the fold. Saints’ senior vice president of communications, Greg Bensel, leaned on longstanding relationships with journalists to ensure favorable coverage. The team’s efforts seemed aimed at framing the crisis as an opportunity for the archbishop to demonstrate leadership, positioning the church as taking proactive steps toward accountability.
Yet, as the Saints played this influential role, victims and survivors of clergy abuse felt deeply betrayed. Kevin Bourgeois, a former Saints season-ticket holder who himself was abused by a priest, voiced his anger upon hearing of the team’s involvement. “It’s hard not to feel retraumatized,” Bourgeois said. “It makes me wonder what else has been hidden from us.”
Saints’ Defense and Public Backlash
In response to the release of the emails, the Saints denied any wrongdoing. In a statement to The Associated Press, they stressed that they did not “recommend or influence” the inclusion or exclusion of any names on the clergy list, though the emails suggest otherwise. They described their efforts as part of a “well-intended” attempt to guide the archdiocese through a challenging time, and they distanced themselves from the specifics of the abuse itself.
Despite this, the team’s actions have reignited anger among survivors. “They should have been as outraged as anyone else about the abuse,” said state Rep. Mandie Landry. “Instead, they worked behind the scenes to protect the institution.”
Fallout and Legal Ramifications
The release of the priest list was just the beginning of a much larger crisis. The list, while containing some names of accused clergy, was notably incomplete, leaving out several individuals who had been named in previous lawsuits or criminal cases. This oversight would lead to further investigations by both state and federal authorities, and the growing legal battle eventually forced the Archdiocese of New Orleans into bankruptcy.
The impact on the local community was significant, with New Orleans residents, many of whom have long had a close relationship with the church, facing a reckoning with decades of abuse. The church has since been forced to release more records, and the FBI and state police have launched investigations into how church leaders managed and concealed abuse cases over the years.
While the Saints have distanced themselves from the scandal since the emails became public, their involvement raises troubling questions about the extent to which New Orleans’ most powerful institutions, including the team, the archdiocese, and local media, worked together to protect the church’s reputation.
As the legal and financial repercussions continue to unfold, the full scope of the Saints’ role in the crisis remains a focal point of public scrutiny and debate.