The New Orleans Saints’ emails to the Catholic church were leaked in violation of a court order, sparking controversy and embarrassment ahead of the team’s hosting of the Super Bowl. The leak, which affected three major publications including the Associated Press, New York Times, and Guardian, shows the extent of the Saints’ PR assistance to the Archdiocese of New Orleans during a sex scandal involving clergy members.
In 2020, the team’s involvement in helping the archdiocese came to light through reporting on an effort to keep emails from being released. The team claimed that the leaked emails were obtained in violation of a court order. However, it appears that someone deliberately broke the order to create maximum embarrassment for the Saints.
The leak strategically timed to coincide with Super Bowl week, when news cycles are typically slow and attention is focused on the upcoming game. This move will likely prompt Commissioner Roger Goodell to address the issue during his annual press conference, fueling another round of media scrutiny.
While the identity of the leaker remains unknown, it’s unclear who among those involved in the litigation or their lawyers could be responsible. The next step for authorities would be to identify and potentially sanction the person(s) behind the leak. Most judges don’t take kindly to orders being violated, so this path is unlikely.
Regardless of the consequences, one thing is certain: the leaked emails shed light on a disturbing case of child molestation by priests, as revealed in 2020 when Saints owner Gayle Benson issued a statement on the matter. The public’s right to know has been compromised, and authorities will need to balance this with the rights of private parties to keep sensitive information confidential.
Ultimately, the question now is whether leaking protected emails was worth it for the person or people responsible, and what consequences they may face as a result.
Source: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/saints-emails-to-catholic-church-were-leaked-in-violation-of-a-court-order