As the NFL gears up for its biggest event of the year, a major controversy has surfaced involving the New Orleans Saints and a sexual abuse scandal linked to the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Recently leaked emails from the late 2010s reveal that key Saints executives, including President Dennis Lauscha and Vice President of Communications Greg Bessel, played a role in assisting the church with its public relations strategy ahead of a major abuse-related scandal.
The 276 emails, obtained by NBC Sports, claim that the Saints organisation helped shape media narratives, prepare talking points, and strategise the church’s response rather than prioritising transparency or the victims' welfare.
The scandal itself centres around decades of sexual abuse committed by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, with dozens of priests accused of molesting children.
In 2018, a list of 57 credibly accused clergy members was made public, though survivors and advocates claim the actual number is far higher.
The Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2020 to manage the flood of lawsuits from victims seeking justice.
According to VICE both the Saints and the Archdiocese worked to keep these emails private, but an anonymous source leaked them just as Super Bowl week began in New Orleans—maximising public attention on the issue.
Among the most damaging revelations are claims that Saints officials had access to lists of accused clergy, allegations that the team’s president helped prepare Archbishop Gregory Aymond for questioning and that the communications director acted as a liaison between the church and the media.
The NFL has yet to comment, but with Commissioner Roger Goodell set to address reporters at the league’s Super Bowl media day on 4th February, he will likely face questions about the extent of any Saints' involvement.