Saints Named in Troubling Suit Alleging Team Execs Assisted Archdiocese's PR Fallout With 'Sexual Abuse Crisis'
While the NFL world is getting ready for the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the New Orleans Saints, following their disappointing early playoff exit, are dealing with some serious allegations off the field.
According to the Associated Press, the Saints will be heading to court in an effort to keep "hundreds of emails secret" that allegedly connect some of the team's executives with assisting the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans with its "sexual abuse crisis."
EXCLUSIVE: The New Orleans @Saints are going to court to keep secret hundreds of emails that allegedly show team executives doing public relations damage control for the area's Roman Catholic archdiocese amid its sexual abuse crisis. https://t.co/6i0DjcmYX4
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 24, 2020
In the detailed report from the AP, attorneys in an impeding suit claimed the Saints helped the Archdiocese in its “pattern and practice of concealing its crimes.”
While the team declined comment, court papers noted the Saints' attorneys passionately denied the allegations as well as the organization taking any part in helping the Catholic Church cover up anything.
Individuals suing the church are accusing Saints' personnel of using their team e-mails to advise church officials on how to move forward and defend the accusations that have been presented.
“The information at issue bears a relationship to these crimes because it is a continuation of the Archdiocese’s pattern and practice of concealing its crimes so that the public does not discover its criminal behavior,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote via the AP. “And the Saints joined in.”
Attorneys for about two dozen men bringing sexual abuse cases against the church say hundreds of emails they obtained through discovery show the @Saints aided the Archdiocese of New Orleans in its “pattern and practice of concealing its crimes.” (2/4)
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 24, 2020
Obviously, more is to come from this shocking development. The NFL has yet to comment, and you better believe they'll be working to do so as soon as possible.