The New Orleans Saints just found themselves at the center of one of the most disturbing scandals in sports history—and this time, it has nothing to do with football.
A bombshell report has revealed that top executives from the Saints and the Pelicans worked with the Catholic Church to manipulate the public narrative surrounding clergy sex abuse—going as far as allegedly removing names from lists of accused priests to protect the Church’s reputation.
The Shocking Emails That Expose the Saints’ Involvement
For years, rumors swirled about the Saints’ deep ties to the Catholic Church in New Orleans. But now, more than 300 newly revealed emails have blown the cover off this collusion, exposing the extent of the team’s efforts to protect the local archdiocese.
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
Among the most damning revelations:
- Greg Bensel, the Saints’ VP of Communications, allegedly admitted in a 2018 email that a district attorney helped remove names from the list of accused priests.
- The Saints worked with media outlets to soften the Church’s public image, even going as far as asking a newspaper to remove a notice encouraging abuse victims to come forward.
- Team executives, including Bensel, were given access to the list of accused clergy before it was released to the public, raising concerns about whether they helped shield predators from scrutiny.
- Despite repeated denials from the Saints and former district attorney Leon Cannizzaro, the emails tell a very different story—one of behind-the-scenes crisis management designed to limit damage for the Church, not protect victims.
NFL in Crisis: Will Goodell Hold the Saints Accountable?
The NFL claims to uphold integrity and accountability, but will Roger Goodell actually take action?
The Saints’ involvement in covering up clergy sex abuse isn’t just a PR disaster—it could be a violation of the league’s conduct policies. The NFL has punished players and coaches for much less, yet no disciplinary action has been announced.
With the Catholic Church facing criminal investigations over its abuse cover-ups, the Saints’ role in allegedly influencing legal and media responses could put them directly in the crosshairs of authorities.
Betrayal of the Fans and the Victims
The most enraging part of this scandal? The betrayal of fans, abuse survivors, and the people of New Orleans.
Kevin Bourgeois, a former Saints season ticket holder and abuse survivor, summed it up:
“We felt betrayed by the organization… I’m angry, hurt and re-traumatized again.”
For a team that markets itself as a pillar of the community, this scandal shatters any trust they once had.
The Bottom Line: Who Will Be Held Accountable?
These new revelations raise serious ethical and legal questions—not just for the Saints and the Pelicans, but for the NFL and the city of New Orleans.
- Will Saints executives face criminal charges for their role in the cover-up?
- Will the NFL actually take action, or will Goodell look the other way?
- Will fans hold the Saints accountable for working against abuse survivors?
One thing is clear: this scandal is far from over.