NFL Veteran Jake McQuaide Confronts Church Official Over Priest Misconduct Rumors
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Former Rams player Jake McQuaide questioned a Cincinnati Archdiocese official during Mass, leading to his removal by police.
Jake McQuaide, a 14-season NFL veteran and former two-time Pro Bowl long snapper for the Rams, made headlines during a recent Mass at an Ohio Catholic church. McQuaide confronted Jason williams, chancellor of the Cincinnati archdiocese, demanding answers regarding rumors that two priests had allegedly viewed pornography on a parish computer.
The incident culminated in police officers escorting McQuaide from the church sanctuary.
Eyewitness accounts describe McQuaide questioning Williams, echoing a scene from the 2008 film “Doubt.” He reportedly asked, “We want to put these rumors to rest. Can you answer this for me, fact or fiction?”
Video footage shows McQuaide responding to someone at the altar who told him, “this is not the time for this,” by stating, “I’m sorry, sir, this is the time and the place. I will stand up. Did the priest use our parish computer to look at pornography? …true or false? True or false?”
The confrontation occurred while Williams was reading a letter from Archbishop Robert Casey addressing the rumors. The letter stated that an investigation found “no wrongdoing – either criminally or ecclesiastically – has been substantiated.” It also mentioned that one of the priests would be taking a “previously planned sabbatical.”
The Archbishop’s letter further cautioned against spreading rumors, stating, “Like gossip, the spreading of rumors is sinful, and we should all work to overcome this tendency of our fallen human nature.”
Local authorities confirmed that McQuaide was escorted from the church by Green Township police officers but was not charged.
Background and Career
mcquaide has local ties to the area, having grown up near Green Township and attended Cincinnati Elder High, an all-male Catholic school within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
“I’m sorry, sir, this is the time and the place. I will stand up. Did the priest use our parish computer to look at pornography? …True or false? True or false?”
After his time at Ohio State, McQuaide played as a long snapper in the NFL for 10 years with the Rams, starting in 2011. As then, he has played for the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins, participating in 197 career games.
Context and Implications
Frequently Asked Questions
- What prompted Jake McQuaide’s actions?
- McQuaide confronted a church official due to rumors of priest misconduct involving pornography on a parish computer.
- What was the Archdiocese’s response to the rumors?
- The Archdiocese stated that an investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing and that one priest was taking a planned sabbatical.
- Was Jake McQuaide charged with a crime?
- No,McQuaide was escorted from the church but not charged by police.
Sources
