A quiet Saturday Mass in Ohio took an unexpected turn when an NFL player rose from the pews and demanded answers that church leaders weren’t ready to give.
NFL long snapper Jake McQuaide became the center of an unexpected scene inside a Cincinnati-area church after confronting clergy during Mass about a reported pornography scandal.
The incident took place on Saturday, May 31, during the 4 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Visitation in Green Township, Ohio. According to police and local reports, McQuaide interrupted the service to directly question Chancellor Jason Williams.
His concern: unconfirmed claims that a priest had used a parish computer to access pornographic material. According to reports, McQuaide stood during the service and asked, “We want to put these rumors to rest. Can you answer this for me?” Williams replied that the moment was inappropriate for such questions.
McQuaide didn’t back down. “I’m sorry, sir, this is the time and the place. I will stand up,” he responded. He followed with a pointed question, “Did the priest use our parish computer to look at pornography? …True or false?”
The exchange, captured on video and obtained by local outlet WCPO, ended with Green Township police escorting McQuaide from the church. He was not arrested or charged. McQuaide, who remains a free agent, previously played for the Los Angeles Rams and, most recently, the Miami Dolphins
The disruption by McQuaide followed the reading of a letter from Archbishop Robert Casey. The message, delivered by Chancellor Williams, addressed ongoing controversy and speculation surrounding clergy at Our Lady of Visitation.
In the letter, Archbishop Casey announced that Father Martin Bachman would soon begin a “previously planned sabbatical,” as originally scheduled. He emphasized that the decision was not connected to any disciplinary action.
The letter stated that multiple concerns had recently been brought to the archdiocese’s attention. These were investigated, but “no wrongdoing either criminally or ecclesiastically has been substantiated.” According to the archbishop, no corroborating facts have been uncovered to support the rumors circulating in the community.
He warned that such rumors can quickly spiral and damage reputations. “Like gossip,” the letter read, “the spreading of rumors is sinful, and we should all work to overcome this tendency of our fallen human nature.”
Archbishop Casey affirmed that both Father Bachman and Father Mark Siciliano are priests in good standing with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and that there is no evidence of criminal misconduct involving Fr. Bachman.
He further reminded parishioners that any knowledge of criminal activity should first be reported to law enforcement and then to church authorities. Casey expressed strong support for both priests, commending their pastoral dedication.
Father Siciliano will continue as pastor, with full authority to make hiring decisions in the best interest of the parish community. The archbishop described the upcoming sabbatical for Fr. Bachman — scheduled to begin in July — as a standard opportunity for spiritual renewal, available to priests every 7 to 10 years.
He said the sabbatical was meant to help priests return refreshed in their vocation. “I pray that his sabbatical will be fruitful,” Casey wrote, “and that upon his return he will continue to serve the people of these parishes with great fervor.”
Before the 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 1, another voice from the pews added fuel to the controversy as Parishioner Todd Zureick addressed fellow congregants.
Zureick disputed the church’s claim that no inappropriate material had been found. “There will be claims today that inappropriate material was not found. It was. That is the truth,” he said, according to video footage of his remarks.
Zureick detailed the basis of his claim. He said that in late March, he and his wife discovered disturbing content on a laptop in the parish office. That device, he asserted, had been used by Father Bachman.
According to Zureick, the images included thumbnails and links to pornography websites. The material allegedly featured explicit and graphic themes.
He stated that he filed a formal complaint with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on April 14. On May 13, an archdiocese employee, Ms. Emily Niehaus, reportedly confirmed that the investigation into the matter was still underway. As of May 31, Zureick claimed the case remained open.
Zureick expressed strong criticism toward parish leadership, describing their response to the situation as both disappointing and indicative of a broader failure in oversight. He suggested that had the issue been acknowledged early and handled responsibly, it could have been addressed more precisely and discreetly in April.
Instead, he felt it had escalated unnecessarily due to inaction. Despite his concerns, Zureick reiterated his deep connection to the parish, emphasizing that he and his family remain devoted to the church, its school, and the broader community and that they had never intended harm.
In its response, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati firmly rejected the allegations. It maintained that claims involving Father Bachman’s use of a parish-owned computer to view pornography were untrue. The archdiocese also clarified that neither Our Lady of the Visitation nor the Divine Mercy Family of Parishes had ever provided Father Bachman with such a device.
