The Saints and Pelicans spokesperson, Greg Bensel, played a central role in the New Orleans archdiocese’s clergy-abuse scandal in 2018. Despite denying public involvement, Bensel communicated with the district attorney at the time, Leon Cannizzaro, allowing the removal of certain names from the list of credibly accused clergy abusers. Cannizzaro has denied such conversations took place and asserted he had no input on the list. Bensel also sought and received feedback and support from influential allies, including New Orleans-based federal judge Jay Zainey.
Bensel’s involvement continued for months after the list’s release, assisting the archdiocese with media responses and public relations efforts. He utilized his Saints email address and worked closely with the archbishop, offering guidance on messaging and assisting with media interviews. Bensel also coordinated with other team officials and local media outlets to shape the narrative surrounding the clergy-abuse crisis.
The Saints and church faced legal challenges, including a subpoena for communications between them, related to their handling of the clergy-abuse scandal. Despite efforts to keep these communications private, the details of their collaboration were revealed. The involvement of the Saints in the clergy-abuse scandal has raised questions about transparency and accountability in the organizations.
Overall, Bensel’s actions in supporting the archdiocese during the clergy-abuse scandal have been met with scrutiny and criticism. The coordinated efforts between the Saints, Pelicans, and the church have shed light on the complexities and challenges surrounding issues of clergy abuse and the role of professional sports organizations in addressing such sensitive matters.
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