Saints Head to Court in Catholic Church Email Dispute

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints are heading to court to block the release of hundreds of emails detailing the behind-the-scenes public relations work the team did for the area's Roman Catholic archdiocese amid its clergy sexual abuse crisis.

A retired judge is expected to hear arguments Thursday on the team's request to keep the emails confidential — at least for now. The hearing comes amid claims that the NFL team joined the New Orleans archdiocese in a “pattern and practice” of concealing sexual abuse.

The team has denied wrongdoing and says its involvement was limited to PR advice.

(Story written By JIM MUSTIAN/AP)