Jake McCoyd Escorted from Ohio Church Amid Controversy
Last weekend, during a service at a Catholic Church in Ohio, veteran NFL player Jake McCoyd was removed after he confronted Archbishop Robert Casey. This incident took place on May 30 while the archbishop was reading a letter addressing concerns surrounding Our Lady of Visitation in Greentownship. In his letter, Casey mentioned that the Archdiocese had looked into “several concerns,” yet found “no criminal or ecclesiastical wrongdoing.
The letter also warned that spreading rumors could damage reputations, calling such actions sinful. After the letter was read, McCoyd called out, “I want to put these rumors to rest. Can you address this?” When Casey said it wasn’t the right time, McCoyd insisted, “Sorry, this is the time and place. I have to speak up.”
“Did the priest use our parish computer to watch porn?… True or false?” he pressed.
McCoyd further stated, “You can view adult content at home, but not here.” Following this confrontation, church officers escorted him out, clarifying, “You’re not trespassing.” He faced no charges or detention, although police had been called to ensure order during the weekend service.
McCoyd, currently a freelance agent after playing for the Miami Dolphins, isn’t the only congregant to voice concerns about the allegations involving pornography.
Before the service on June 1, a parishioner named Todd Zlek, who had lodged a formal complaint with the Archdiocese in April, expressed unease. He told those gathered, “Claims might arise that no inappropriate material was found today. That’s simply not the case.”
Zlek alleged that he had received images from a parish laptop that linked to pornographic sites and explicit role-playing games.
“It’s disheartening and embarrassing,” he remarked. “This reflects a significant lack of control and leadership within our parish.” He explained that he attempted to resolve the issue with church leaders back in mid-April, but said it’s been mishandled since.
Zlek emphasized the commitment of parishioners to their faith community, asserting they “would never want this in our parish.” However, an Archdiocese spokesperson countered the allegations, affirming that there was no evidence of misconduct, including misuse of church computers.
“As Archbishop Casey stated, everyone faces challenges in life, including priests,” the spokesperson conveyed. “The Archdiocese remains committed to supporting its clergy and staff in their personal and spiritual growth.”
Casey mentioned that a planned sabbatical for the priest involved would move forward in July, adding that the police have found no evidence of criminal activity and the investigation continues.
“Viewing adult content isn’t illegal in itself,” police Capt. Mitch Hill noted. “Without aggravating circumstances, we won’t pursue a criminal investigation.”
This incident has sparked a petition earlier this year that called for increased “transparency and leadership accountability” from three local Catholic parishes.
In his letter, Casey acknowledged that change can be challenging and “things don’t always go as we prefer.” This isn’t the first time Casey has faced controversy; he was previously involved in a sextortion case, which wasn’t mentioned in his latest correspondence.
