When the Archdiocese of New Orleans found itself in the middle of a major sex-abuse scandal, help came from an unexpected place: the New Orleans Saints. A batch of over 300 emails, recently uncovered, shows how the team’s leadership stepped in to assist the church during this challenging time.

In 2018, the archdiocese faced a wave of public outrage after releasing a list of clergy members accused of sexual abuse. Gayle Benson, owner of the Saints and a devoted Catholic, was deeply concerned. She’s not only a significant donor to the church but also a close friend of Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

Greg Bensel, the Saints’ communications chief, noticed a news story about a former deacon, accused of abuse, still working in a public role. He emailed Benson, expressing concern for the archbishop. Benson shared that Aymond was “very upset,” and Bensel offered his crisis management expertise—skills honed during his years with the Saints.

Benson agreed to pass the offer to the archbishop, and soon after, the Saints began aiding the archdiocese. They worked together to craft talking points for media interviews and manage public relations strategies.

The scandal has had a lasting impact, with hundreds of abuse claims filed against the archdiocese, leading to lawsuits, settlements, and even bankruptcy proceedings. The Saints’ involvement highlights how two major institutions in New Orleans collaborated during a deeply troubling time.

This unexpected alliance sheds light on the ways organizations can support each other in moments of crisis, even when the challenges are as daunting as addressing decades of abuse.