NEW ORLEANS — In a surprising turn of events, church leaders in New Orleans sought assistance from an unexpected source: the front office of the city’s NFL team, the Saints, as they faced the backlash following their disclosure of a list of alleged predatory priests within the Catholic Church.
What ensued was an extensive crisis communication initiative managed by the Saints’ president and other senior officials over several months. Internal emails obtained have uncovered that the involvement of team executives was far deeper than previously understood, revealing their hands-on approach in the public relations strategy aimed at easing the repercussions of the clergy sexual abuse scandal—a subject that diverges from their usual focus on football. This initiative was notably influenced by the team’s deeply religious owner, who has maintained a close connection with the local Catholic leadership, particularly the archbishop.
These emails also highlighted solidarity among various local institutions, including a sitting federal judge and local media figures, supporting the church during this crucial period. Noteworthy developments uncovered in the Saints’ correspondence reveal crucial details about the public relations maneuvering:
— Team executives provided significant assistance to church leaders, including situations where a team spokesman updated his superior about a 2018 conversation with the city’s chief prosecutor, just before the church unveiled the controversial list. The spokesman noted that they managed to “take certain people off” the publicized list as a result of this discussion.
— Saints officials were among the initial external individuals to review the clergy list, which was described as carefully created yet incomplete concerning the number of suspected abusers. The unveiling of the list not only led to civil litigation against the church but also attracted scrutiny from federal and state law enforcement agencies.
— Team president Dennis Lauscha formulated a series of queries that Archbishop Gregory Aymond was expected to address during his press interactions.
— The Saints’ senior communications officer, Greg Bensel, kept Lauscha informed about how the archbishop was faring during local media engagements, indicating a collaborative effort between the church and the team. Bensel’s updates demonstrated a united front: “He is doing well,” he noted, as the archbishop conveyed the church’s commitment to confronting the crisis.
The released emails directly contradict earlier declarations from the Saints that their involvement was minimal. They had even taken legal steps to conceal these internal communications.
State Representative Mandie Landry expressed her outrage, saying, “As a resident, taxpayer, and Catholic, it’s incomprehensible that the Saints would go to such lengths to protect individuals accused of such heinous acts against children.”
In light of the emails, the Saints have distanced themselves from this collaboration, stating that their assistance belongs to a bygone era, with the documents covering events up until July 2019. This was the same timeframe when attorneys for victims of clergy abuse sought records from the team.
The franchise has publicly criticized the media for what they see as a distortion of their intentions through the release of these emails, emphasizing that no one within the organization supports or attempts to cover up such abusive actions within the church.
Survivors of the abuse have voiced their sense of betrayal. Kevin Bourgeois, a former season ticket holder who suffered abuse in the 1980s, shared, “This makes me feel deceived by the organization, leading me to wonder what other secrets are being kept hidden.”
After the initial reporting of the Saints’ alliance with the Archdiocese in early 2020, the team owner Gayle Benson denied any recommendation or input from their staff on the clergy list. They have reiterated that no Saints employees played any role in adding or omitting names, despite the troubling associations suggested in the emails.
Leon Cannizzaro, the then-district attorney, also maintained he had no part in generating the accused clergy list. He refuted claims about his involvement in modifying any names on the list and expressed puzzlement over the Saints’ spokesman’s comments about a call concerning it.
These communications raise fresh concerns surrounding the Saints’ involvement in a sensitive issue that has larger legal and financial implications. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell publicly supported the Saints, describing them as “great corporate citizens” while acknowledging current investigations related to clergy abuse.
The emails depict a concerted effort by several New Orleans entities to rally behind church officials during a particularly challenging time. Emails included expressions of gratitude from specific public figures for the team’s support as they navigated the crisis.
The release of the clergy list was a significant event for the Catholic Church in New Orleans, marking a long-awaited acknowledgment aimed at restoring trust and accountability. This disclosure happened in the context of the Archdiocese grappling with a history of abuse and numerous legal challenges that would later force them into bankruptcy.
The litigation underway claims to involve over 600 individuals alleging abuse by clergy. Initial investigations indicated discrepancies in the clergy list’s completeness, as some individuals with recorded allegations were notably absent from the published list.
The fallout from this list has prompted extensive investigations from law enforcement into the local church’s handling of allegations. New state police actions included a significant record seizure from the Archdiocese.
While the abuse by clergy had largely remained in the shadows prior to 2018, public relations efforts intensified amid significant scrutiny during that year, culminating in a powerful season for the Saints. Bensel proactively engaged media relations, preparing strategical talking points, utilizing his connections, and calling for understanding from local newspapers during a tumultuous period.
Ownership ties between the team and the church are longstanding; Benson, the owner, and Archbishop Aymond have shared a close relationship, having initially been introduced by Benson’s late husband. The Benson family’s substantial financial contributions to the church further solidify this bond.
Emails show that as the church grappled with scandals, Bensel leveraged his media relations skills, fostering collaborative sentiments with the press while attempting to shape the coverage favorably towards the church’s narrative. This relationship has prompted ongoing dialogues about the ethical responsibilities of journalists in light of external influences.
As investigations and public scrutiny continue, the focus remains on the accountability of all institutions involved, both for the victims of clergy abuse and for the city of New Orleans as it navigates the repercussions of these shocking revelations.
