NEW ORLEANS — In the aftermath of a scandal involving predatory Catholic priests, the leadership of the Archdiocese of New Orleans sought assistance from an unlikely source: the city’s prominent NFL team, the Saints.
A recent release of internal communications has revealed that Saints executives were heavily involved in a strategic public relations effort to navigate the fallout from the clergy sexual abuse crisis. This initiative was largely orchestrated by the team’s president and other senior officials, highlighting their close ties to local church leadership, including the archbishop.
Insights from the internal emails indicate that Saints leaders were significantly engaged in the church’s plan for damage control. For instance, a team representative relayed details about a conversation with the city’s chief prosecutor to his superiors just before the Archdiocese publicly disclosed a list of accused priests. The information shared indicated that certain names could be removed from the list.
Furthermore, Saints executives were among the first to access the confidential list of alleged abusers, which was composed meticulously but ultimately lacked inclusivity. This list had implications for civil lawsuits against the church and drew scrutiny from law enforcement at both state and federal levels. In preparation for public disclosures, Saints president Dennis Lauscha even prepared a series of anticipated questions for Archbishop Gregory Aymond. Team spokesman Greg Bensel kept Lauscha informed about the media’s response and the church’s public relations efforts.
When the scandal escalated, Bensel implemented a proactive PR strategy, leveraging his media connections and creating talking points to support the church during what he described as an impending “messy” period. Throughout the 2018 season, even as the Saints competed in the NFC Championship, Bensel coordinated these communication efforts, emphasizing the team’s role in the community while requesting discretion from local editors.
In response to criticism stemming from the AP’s earlier report on this partnership, the Saints have maintained their stance, asserting that they did not endorse or wish to conceal the abuse that took place within the Archdiocese. They have reiterated their commitment to transparency, although they simultaneously pursued legal measures to keep their internal discussions private.
The organization expressed in a recent statement that “No member of the Saints organization condones or wants to cover up the abuse” and acknowledged the gravity of the situation. They also firmly denied any involvement in formulating the list of accused priests, stating that their employees were not responsible for altering names on the list provided by the church.
The revelations have stirred anger among New Orleans residents, with many voicing their disappointment in the Saints’ actions. State Rep. Mandie Landry expressed her disgust, questioning why the team would strive to protect abusers rather than stand up for victims. Kevin Bourgeois, a survivor of clerical sexual abuse, conveyed feelings of betrayal, prompting him to ponder what other truths may be hidden. “I’m angry, hurt and re-traumatized again,” he said, reflecting the sentiments of many within the community.
Insights from NFL emails detailing Saints’ response efforts to clergy sex abuse scandal.
