Official: Saints emails on clergy crisis should stay secret
Source: AP
By JIM MUSTIAN
Hundreds of emails detailing the New Orleans Saints efforts to conduct damage control for the areas Roman Catholic archdiocese amid its clergy sexual abuse crisis should remain shielded from the public, a court official recommended Thursday.
The recommendation by a court special master came almost three months after The Associated Press urged the release of the confidential emails as a matter of public interest. Those emails emerged as part of a lawsuit against the church and it will ultimately be up to a judge in that case to make the final decision.
Releasing the messages would only embarrass or bring under public scrutiny those who tried to help the Archdiocese of New Orleans as it sought to weather the fallout from the clergy abuse crisis, retired Judge Carolyn Gill-Jefferson wrote in a five-page filing.
She agreed with church leaders and the Saints that the communications were private, writing that the exchange of information during discovery is to be held within the confines of the pending litigation and outside of public view.
FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2016, file photo, a New Orleans Saints helmet rests on the playing field before an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo. An Associated Press review of public tax documents found that the Bensons' foundation has given at least $62 million to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and other Catholic causes over the past dozen years, including gifts to schools, universities, charities and individual parishes. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Read more: https://apnews.com/db35a470478774e6f137f1759a03c30c
niyad
(112,424 posts)That is the rcc?
I admit that I have ZERO interest in a game that causes so many TBI's, but this puzzles me.
How much do taxpayers subsidize the team. And the church?
Sgent
(5,857 posts)was a devout Catholic and his parish priest was the Archbishop. The two of them were talking, and Benson apparently asked the Saints PR director to help the Dioceses in handling / publishing the list of accused priests. That's what we know.
FakeNoose
(32,328 posts)... somebody in the priesthood, perhaps his brother, a cousin, whatever ... and he was trying to protect family honor. I don't have any insider info on this, but having been raised in a Catholic family, I can surmise that that would be a strong motive.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)but I don't think that's it. The team is now owned by his widow, and there was a very nasty competency hearing during this same time and towards the end of his life (under seal) when he cut off his children from the Saints and Pelicans (they had already inherited a bunch).
AllaN01Bear
(17,346 posts)Sgent
(5,857 posts)passed away. My guess is they want to try and accuse the Saints of liability in assisting the cover-up.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)This is so wrong on so many levels! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
K&R
Submariner
(12,482 posts)by the catholic church hierarchy is pathetic. I suppose the reporters don't get the chance to ask the Saints players and management how they would feel about a priest sticking his dick inside his 10 years old boy or girl.
Well there's one team to never bother watching again. Apparently the Saints feel that kiddie f**king is a Big Easy kind of thing.
rpannier
(24,304 posts)If you've done nothing wrong, why is she trying to hide it? In this case, it's Gayle Benson
keithbvadu2
(36,360 posts)Anyone against such actions would say it loud and proud.
orleans
(33,986 posts)like, what exactly is this about?