A bombshell new report has laid out exactly how much the New Orleans Saints organization worked with the Catholic Church to help cover up and control the narrative around sex abuse scandals.
It’s been known since 2020 that the New Orleans Saints worked with the local Catholic archdiocese to help it navigate the fallout from a recent abuse scandal. But more than 300 newly revealed emails show the extent of that collaboration. https://t.co/ZoZANqcg2L
— Jenny Vrentas (@JennyVrentas) February 3, 2025
More News: Multiple NFL GMs ‘Skeptical’ of Incoming 2025 QB Draft Class
Per sports reporter Jenny Ventras, “It’s been known since 2020 that the New Orleans Saints worked with the local Catholic archdiocese to help it navigate the fallout from a recent abuse scandal. But more than 300 newly revealed emails show the extent of that collaboration.”
Multiple reports from major news outlets, including The New York Times, AP News, and The Guardian, reveal that the Saints have been accused of working closely with the city’s Catholic archdiocese to cover up clergy sexual abuse and manipulate the public narrative surrounding the release of a list of accused priests.
Sensitive emails obtained by The Guardian and NY Times reveal that top executives from the Saints and the Pelicans, the city’s NBA team, were far more involved in the scandal than previously admitted.
The emails suggest the teams played a significant role in managing the fallout from the abuse allegations, including helping to remove names from the list of clergy credibly accused of molesting children—actions the teams have denied.
An exterior view of the Caesars Superdome before a game between the New Orleans Saints and the Las Vegas Raiders on December 29, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
An exterior view of the Caesars Superdome before a game between the New Orleans Saints and the Las Vegas Raiders on December 29, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images
One of the most troubling revelations comes from an email from Greg Bensel, the Saints’ vice president of communications, on November 1, 2018.
Bensel described a conference call with then-district attorney Leon Cannizzaro that allegedly resulted in certain names being removed from the clergy-abuse list.
Bensel wrote: “Had a cc w [Cannizzaro] last night that allowed us to take certain people off the list.” However, both the Saints and Cannizzaro have strongly denied any involvement in editing the list.
The Saints, in a 2020 statement, insisted that “no one associated with our organizations made recommendations or had input on the individual names” on the list. Cannizzaro also denied any role, saying, “We simply requested information from them… they provided us documents of people that they believe were responsible for abuse.”
The Saints and Pelicans have claimed their involvement was limited to offering minimal public relations assistance after the archdiocese asked for help in managing media coverage around the release of the list.
Yet the newly disclosed emails paint a picture of deeper involvement. Bensel, who also served as a personal friend of Archbishop Gregory Aymond, played a key role in shaping how the scandal was communicated to the public.
In one email exchange, Bensel offered to help Aymond with “crisis communications” before the archbishop made plans to release the list of accused clergy. Aymond’s close ties to team owner Gayle Benson, who inherited the Saints and Pelicans from her late husband Tom Benson, are well-documented.
The emails show that the teams were not just offering public relations advice, but actively working behind the scenes to influence how the abuse scandal was managed—an effort that some argue went beyond the realm of good-faith assistance.
Further emails show that the Saints’ executives were among the first to see the list of clergy accused of abuse, and that they were actively involved in shaping how the media would cover it.
The emails also reveal that the Saints’ assistance extended to influencing local media coverage. Bensel worked directly with reporters to ensure the archdiocese’s reputation was protected, and even took steps to have certain information removed from articles.
Reportedly, after a damaging story about a deacon with a history of child sexual abuse, Bensel communicated with The Advocate to have a notice encouraging clergy abuse victims to come forward removed from an article, apparently at the request of the archdiocese.
The allegations have caused outrage among survivors of clergy abuse, who feel betrayed by the Saints’ involvement in the scandal.
Kevin Bourgeois, a former Saints season ticket holder who was abused by a priest in the 1980s, expressed his anger: “We felt betrayed by the organization… I’m angry, hurt and re-traumatized again.”
These new revelations, including the team’s role in influencing the release of the clergy list and shaping media coverage, have further fueled public outrage and led many to question how far the Saints’ involvement in the cover-up actually went.
The emails also raise serious legal and ethical concerns, especially given the NFL‘s strict policies regarding conduct detrimental to the league.
The Saints’ actions could potentially attract scrutiny from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, particularly since the church’s abuse scandal has escalated into a full-blown criminal investigation.
The question remains whether the team’s actions were in violation of league policies, and what role the NFL will play in holding the Saints accountable for their involvement.
While the Saints continue to deny any wrongdoing, the emails show that the team’s executives were actively involved in shaping the response to one of the most significant scandals in the history of the Catholic Church in the U.S.
The full extent of their actions—especially in relation to the removal of names from the clergy-abuse list—remains unclear, but these revelations have undoubtedly raised new questions about the level of influence the team exercised over the archdiocese during a time of crisis.
The controversy continues to unfold, with both legal and public relations implications for both the Saints and the Catholic Church in New Orleans.
More News:
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Explains Why LSU Reigns Supreme for WRs
Noah Lyles Reignites Feud With Dolphins Star Tyreek Hill After Winning 60M
For more on the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.