From Saints to Sinners: New Orleans Football Team Embroiled in Church Scandal

In America, we’ve come to expect a certain level of absurdity from our institutions.

But every now and then, a story breaks that is so jaw-dropping, so morally bankrupt, that it leaves us in a state of disbelief, forcing us to stop and ask: What in the world is going on here?

This is one of those stories. And it involves two things Americans hold dear: football and faith.

But don’t be fooled—this isn’t a heartwarming tale of touchdowns and Sunday sermons. No, this story is about corruption, cover-ups, and the shocking lengths some will go to protect themselves.

Let’s start with the New Orleans Saints. Yes, the Saints—the NFL team that prides itself on being a pillar of the community, a symbol of resilience after Hurricane Katrina, and, shockingly, a willing participant in one of the most grotesque scandals imaginable.

According to a bombshell report by the Associated Press, the Saints organization didn’t just stand by while the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans dealt with allegations of clergy sexual abuse.

No, they actively helped. They got involved. They rolled up their sleeves and joined the effort to manage the fallout. And by “manage,” we mean cover-up.

The Unholy Alliance

Emails obtained by the AP reveal that Saints executives, including team president Dennis Lauscha and senior vice president of communications Greg Bensel, worked hand-in-hand with the Archdiocese to shape the narrative around the release of a list of credibly accused priests.

They weren’t just offering PR advice—they were in the weeds, drafting questions for the Archbishop, coordinating with local media, and even discussing which names should be removed from the list.

Let that sink in.

A professional football team beloved by millions was helping to decide which accused child predators should be shielded from public scrutiny.

Now, why would the Saints do this? Why would a football team, of all things, involve itself in something so far outside its lane?

Well, it turns out the team’s owner, Gayle Benson, is a devout Catholic with close ties to the Archdiocese. She’s donated millions to the church, and the Archbishop, Gregory Aymond, is a personal confidant.

So, when the church needed help managing a PR disaster, the Saints stepped up.

But let’s be clear: this wasn’t some innocent act of charity. It was a calculated effort to protect the church—and possibly, by extension, the Saints—from the financial and reputational fallout of a clergy abuse scandal.

Deep Dive into Deception

And here’s where it gets even darker.

The Saints’ involvement wasn’t just about spin. According to the emails, the team’s spokesman, Greg Bensel, called the local district attorney just hours before the Archdiocese released its list of accused priests.

During that call, they discussed removing certain names from the list. Who were those names? We don’t know. The Saints and the Archdiocese have fought tooth and nail to keep those details secret.

But one thing is clear: this wasn’t about justice for victims. This was about damage control.

Now, let’s talk about the victims.

These are people who were abused as children by men they were taught to trust—men who were supposed to represent God.

Many of them have spent decades carrying the trauma of what happened to them. And when they finally thought they might get some measure of justice, they were betrayed all over again—this time by the very institutions that are supposed to protect them, a betrayal that cuts deep.

The Catholic Church? Sure, we’ve seen this all too often. But the Saints? A football team? That’s a new low.

What’s at stake here is more than just public relations or season ticket sales. It’s about potential legal exposure for the Saints, about children who might have attended a football camp run by the team only to find themselves in the clutches of predators the team was helping protect.

And where is the NFL in all of this?

Commissioner Roger Goodell, who loves to lecture us about social justice and moral responsibility, has been conspicuously silent.

His silence in the face of such a blatant violation of the league’s policy against conduct’ detrimental to the integrity of the game’ is deafening.

The Saints’ actions are a blatant violation of the league’s policy against conduct “detrimental to the integrity of the game.” But don’t hold your breath waiting for Goodell to take action. The NFL has shown time and time again that it only cares about morality when it’s convenient.

So, what does this say about our society?

It says the powerful will always protect their own, no matter the cost. It says that corruption can thrive in plain sight, even in a city like New Orleans, where football and faith are woven into the fabric of daily life. It also says that nothing will ever change if we don’t hold these institutions accountable.

A Call for Accountability

The Saints should be ashamed. The Archdiocese should be ashamed. And every single person who helped cover up the abuse of children should be held accountable.

And let’s not forget the irony here.

In recent years, we’ve seen professional sports teams like the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians bend over backward to change their nicknames and mascots because, we’re told, they might be offensive or insensitive

But if we’re really in the business of rebranding teams based on moral failings, then nothing screams for a name change louder than the New Orleans Saints.

Saints? Really? After this scandal, that nickname isn’t just inaccurate—it’s downright laughable.

Maybe they should consider something more fitting, like the New Orleans Hell Devils or the Bayou Cover-Ups. At least then, they’d be honest about who they are. Because right now, the only thing saintly about this organization is their ability to keep a straight face while pretending they’ve done nothing wrong.

If we can’t even protect kids from predators, what kind of society are we? The answer is obvious: a broken one. And until we fix it, stories like this will keep happening.

Saints? Not by a long shot. Hell Devils, however, now that’s a name they’ve earned.

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