Catholic Parish Erupts after NFL Player Confronts Priest during Mass
Veteran NFL player Jake McQuaide was escorted out of a Catholic church in Ohio last weekend after interrupting a Mass to ask about alleged pornography use by a parish priest. During a May 30th mass, McQuaide called out Archbishop Robert Casey after reading a letter in defense of staff at Our Lady of the Visitation in Green Township, Ohio. According to Casey's letter, the archdiocese investigated "several concerns" brought to its attention but that "no wrongdoing—either criminally or ecclesiastically—has been substantiated."
The letter also stressed that "the spreading of rumors is sinful" and can be detrimental to reputations, Church Leaders reports.
Upon finishing the letter, McQuaide asked loudly "We want to put these rumors to rest. Can you answer this for me?" When Casey declined, stating how it is not the time, McQuaide answered, "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?" he asked.
Based on livestream footage, McQuaide added, "You can look at pornography at your house, but you cannot do it here."
Subsequently, police officers escorted McQuaide out of the church building as he said, "I am not trespassing." He was not detained or charged with a crime. Nevertheless, the archdiocese had asked for a police presence at weekend Mass as a precaution against further disruptions.
McQuaide, who is currently a freelance agent after playing most recently for the Miami Dolphins, is not the only Visitation parishioner who raised concern over the porn allegation.
Before Sunday's Mass (June 1), Todd Zureick, who filed a formal complaint with the archdiocese in April, voiced his concerns.
"There will be claims today that inappropriate material was not found," he told worshipers from his pew. "It was. That is the truth."
He also claimed that he received images from a parish laptop with links to porn sites and hard-core role-playing games.
"It's sad and embarrassing that the lack of institutional control and lack of leadership by our parish leadership has led to this," he said. "A simple acknowledgment of the issue and taking responsibility would have allowed this to be handled with a scalpel in mid-April, but now it's being handled with a hatchet."
Zureick contended that parishioners love their faith community and "would never wish this upon our parish."
The archdiocese spokesperson, however, has denied the allegations, stating that Bachman is in good standing and that there is no evidence of wrongdoing, including the parish not issuing Bachmman a computer.
"As Archbishop Casey has stated, everyone faces particular challenges in life," the statement read. "Priests are no different. The archdiocese will continue to assist its priests and employees with their personal and spiritual growth."
The archbishop added that Bachman will be going on a previously planned sabbatical in July, while police say that there's no evidence of criminal wrongdoing and that no investigation is underway.
"Absent an aggravating factor, viewing pornography in and of itself would not be illegal or cause to launch a criminal investigation," said Police Capt. Mitch Hill.
The incident comes after parishioners at three local Catholic parishes—including Visitation—started a petition earlier this year demanding "transparency and leadership accountability."
In his letter, Casey said that change can be difficult, and "things may not always unfold according to our personal preferences."
Casey was previously caught up in controversy as he was under a separate investigation into a sextortion case in 2023, a case he did not mention in his letter last weekend.
WATCH: NFL Player Removed from Church after Confronting Priest Involved in Pornography Scandal
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/John McCoy/Contributor
Originally published June 06, 2025.
