New Orleans Saints Collaborate with Local Archdiocese in Abuse Scandal

News Summary

Newly revealed emails expose extensive collaborations between the New Orleans Saints and the local Catholic archdiocese regarding the management of a sex abuse scandal involving clergy members. The communications, initiated by Saints VP Greg Bensel, suggest a deeper involvement of the team in crisis response efforts following allegations of sexual misconduct. Critics argue this undermines transparency and raises ethical questions, as the NFL faces potential scrutiny due to ongoing investigations.

New Orleans – Newly revealed emails have shed light on extensive collaborations between the New Orleans Saints and the local Catholic archdiocese regarding the management of a sex abuse scandal connected to multiple clergy members. The emails, over 300 in total, highlight the depth of the Saints’ involvement in the crisis response surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct within the church.

According to the emails, initiated by Saints senior vice president of communications Greg Bensel, the team’s involvement began after a damaging article about clergy abuse appeared in The Advocate newspaper. Bensel reached out to team owner Gayle Benson to discuss ways in which the Saints could assist Archbishop Gregory Aymond. He offered his expertise in crisis communications to help manage the public perception of the escalating scandal.

One key portion of the emails points to a conference call involving Bensel, Aymond, and then-New Orleans District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro. This call reportedly allowed for certain names to be removed from a list of accused clergy. Although both the Saints and Cannizzaro have denied involvement in this alteration, the list initially began with 57 names but later expanded to 80, raising concerns over the integrity of the investigation.

Bensel’s role extended to preparing Aymond for public engagements and media interviews, providing tailored talking points to help navigate the media landscape during a time of heightened scrutiny. This strategic planning aimed to protect the reputation of the archdiocese by shaping the narrative surrounding the scandal. As part of their efforts, the Saints also encouraged local media to support Aymond’s communications plans, working to minimize negative press regarding the church and its handling of the allegations.

The response from the archdiocese to the sexual abuse crisis has faced significant backlash from clergy abuse survivors, who feel that the lack of transparency has compounded their suffering. Survivors expressed outrage over the Saints’ collaboration, arguing that it undermined efforts to ensure justice for victims of clergy abuse and led to a perception of a cover-up.

The developments regarding the Saints’ involvement raise serious ethical and legal questions about the collaboration between the team and the archdiocese as the scandal unfolds. The NFL, known for imposing strict policies regarding conduct that is considered detrimental to the league, faces potential scrutiny due to the ongoing criminal investigations tied to the church’s abuse scandal. As these allegations continue to evolve, both the Saints and the archdiocese may face implications from both legal and public relations perspectives.

Previously, the Saints claimed that their involvement with the archdiocese was limited and primarily consisted of supporting public relations efforts. However, the contents of the newly released emails contradict those assertions, indicating a far more active role in managing the crisis on behalf of the church.

The situation continues to evolve, with potential legal ramifications for both the Saints and the archdiocese. As this scandal progresses, the implications of the newly uncovered evidence will likely affect not only the involved parties but also the larger conversation surrounding institutional responses to abuse allegations.

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Additional Resources

• The Guardian: NFL Sexual Abuse Survivors New Orleans Saints
• Google Search: New Orleans Saints sexual abuse
• USA Today: Saints Catholic Church Scandal New Emails
• Wikipedia: Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church
• WWLTV: Saints Pelicans Execs Clergy Abuse List
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Catholic Church