Saints organization responds to leaked emails with Catholic church

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WVUE [New Orleans LA]

February 3, 2025

By Thanh Truong

[See also the media statement by James C. Gulotta, Jr. on behalf of Gayle Benson, Dennis Lauscha, Greg Bensel, and the New Orleans Louisiana Saints.]

The New Orleans Saints have responded to the release of internal emails detailing their involvement in the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ public relations efforts amid the clergy sexual abuse crisis.

In a statement, the team denied any role in shaping the list of credibly accused priests and criticized the media’s handling of the leaked correspondence.

The emails, obtained by the Associated Press, show that Saints executives, including team president Dennis Lauscha and senior vice president of communications Greg Bensel, provided strategic communications support to the Archdiocese in 2018.

The records suggest that Bensel coordinated messaging, drafted talking points for Archbishop Gregory Aymond, and advised on handling media inquiries. One email also indicated that the Saints’ PR team was informed of discussions with then-Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro before the release of the clergy list.

In its response, the Saints acknowledged offering PR guidance but insisted no team officials had any say in who was included or removed from the clergy abuse list.

“No member of the Saints organization condones or wants to cover up the abuse that occurred in the Archdiocese of New Orleans,” the statement read. “That abuse occurred is a terrible fact.”

The team also accused the media of using “leaked emails for the purpose of misconstruing a well-intended effort.”

https://www.fox8live.com/2025/02/03/saints-organization-responds-leaked-emails-with-catholic-church/