A recent investigation conducted by WWL Louisiana and The Guardian has revealed emails showcasing the collaboration between top officials at the NFL’s Saints and NBA’s Pelicans with the New Orleans Roman Catholic archdiocese in managing media coverage of a clergy-abuse scandal. Despite statements indicating limited involvement made by the sports franchises, the emails suggest otherwise, calling into question their role in the scandal.
The emails detail how Saints and Pelicans spokesperson Greg Bensel communicated with former New Orleans district attorney Leon Cannizzaro in an attempt to influence the church’s publication of a list of credibly accused clergy abusers. While Cannizzaro denied these claims, Bensel’s communications with other influential figures and media outlets paint a different picture.
The collaboration continued even after a subpoena halted direct coordination, with Bensel advising the church on messaging and media responses for almost a year. The Saints and the archdiocese complied with the subpoena but fought to keep the details of their correspondence private.
The revelations have sparked controversy, with questions raised about the extent of the sports franchises’ involvement in managing the scandal. The Saints have defended their actions as providing public relations assistance to the archdiocese, while the church has denied any outside influence on the list of accused clergy.
Overall, the emails shed light on the behind-the-scenes efforts to control the narrative surrounding the clergy-abuse scandal in New Orleans, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in managing such sensitive issues.
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