An NFL long snapper was escorted out of an Ohio church by police during a contentious scene over the weekend as parishioners sought answers about rumors and accusations that one of the priests had viewed pornography on a church computer.
Fourteen-year NFL veteran Jake McQuaide found himself in the middle of the fray on Saturday at Our Lady of the Visitation in Green Township when he demanded answers from Archdiocese of Cincinnati Chancellor Jason Williams, who was addressing allegations against priest Martin Bachman.
A member of the church, Todd Zureick, said they saw images from a laptop that contained “thumbnails to pornography sites and links to multiple virtual reality role-playing sites involving pornography, sexual assault, group sex, rape, and occult themes,” .
Zureick filed a complaint with the archdiocese earlier in the year.
On Saturday, Williams read a letter from Archbishop Robert Casey that shot down the allegations.
“These have been investigated, and no wrongdoing — either criminally or ecclesiastically — has been substantiated … consequently, like gossip, the spreading of rumors is sinful, and we should all work to overcome this tendency of our fallen human nature,” the letter said.
It was at this point that Cincinnati native McQuaide, 37, stepped in and demanded answers about the pornography allegations.
“Please take a second. We want to put these rumors to rest. Can you answer this for me … fact or fiction,” McQuaide said, according to WCPO.
When someone at the altar tried to tell the long snapper that it wasn’t the right time for this interaction, McQuaide, who said he saw the images of the computer, reportedly replied: “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. … I am not trespassing.
“You can look at pornography at your house, but you cannot do it here.”
McQuaide, a two-time Pro Bowler, was escorted out by Green Township police officers, who were asked to be at the church in case of disruptions
Capt. Mitch Hill told The Enquirer that McQuiade was not detained nor charged with a crime.
Archbishop Casey said Bachman has a planned sabbatical from July that is not related to the allegations.
Police, according to multiple reports, have also said they have not found that any member of the clergy from the church has committed crimes.
WCPO reported that over 700 people from the surrounding area parish have signed a petition to demand transparency.
McQuiade, a free agent, spent time on the Vikings’ and Dolphins’ active rosters last year. The Ohio State product, who has suited up for five different teams, previously played 10 years — 160 games — with the Rams.
