Key takeaways from the investigation into the New Orleans Saints' involvement in the clergy abuse scandal:

• The Saints played a significant role in helping the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans manage media fallout from clergy abuse allegations.
• Internal emails reveal a coordinated public relations campaign and communication between Saints executives and church leaders.
• The involvement of Saints executives in potentially altering the list of credibly accused clergy raises serious ethical concerns.
• Survivors of clergy abuse expressed anger and betrayal, questioning the motives behind the Saints' actions.
• The revelations complicate the narrative surrounding the church's transparency and accountability in handling sexual abuse cases.

In a shocking revelation, AP News has uncovered that the New Orleans Saints, a prominent NFL franchise, provided extensive support to the Archdiocese of New Orleans amid a clergy sexual abuse crisis. Emails obtained through legal proceedings outline how the Saints' front office was involved in an effort to shield the church from backlash as it published a list of clergymen accused of sexual abuse. The emails depict a well-planned public relations campaign spearheaded by Saints officials, including owner Gayle Benson, who has had longstanding ties with Archbishop Gregory Aymond, and team executives.

Specific details from the emails indicate that team executives were privy to the list release prior to its public disclosure and even suggested adjustments, which included discussions on removing certain names. The Saints' president Dennis Lauscha had prepared questions that Archbishop Aymond should expect from the media, further illustrating their coordination.

Victims and advocates have expressed intense outrage, accusing the Saints of enabling the church's efforts to manipulate public perception at the expense of abuse survivors. State Representative Mandie Landry voiced her disgust at the collaboration, stating, "It doesn’t make any sense to me why the Saints would go to these lengths to protect grown men who raped children."

The Saints have defended their actions, claiming they aimed to assist in crisis communications, maintaining that they did not have any input on the clergy list. However, ongoing investigations into the Archdiocese continue as the fallout from the scandal reveals deeper issues within the church and its handling of abuse accusations. The collaboration between the Saints and church leaders highlights alarming intersections between powerful institutions exploring damage control strategies amidst serious ethical violations.

These findings also align with concerns about transparency and accountability within the church, as calls for reform grow louder. The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests has stated that the emails indicate a far-reaching complicity in protecting an institution over the welfare of abuse victims.

As investigations continue, scrutiny surrounding the relationship between the Saints and the Archdiocese persists, prompting questions about their responsibilities not just as organizations, but as community leaders.

For a complete breakdown of the investigation, visit The Independent.