The names of prominent Vatican cardinals considered potential successors to Pope Francis are on a list published as part of Radio Canada's new class action lawsuit against the Diocese of Quebec . Discovered by research program Enquête.
Mark He Cardinal Ouellet, who was Archbishop of Quebec when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was in session, said about 88 of the clergy facing allegations of sexual assault He is one of the members. This is the first time Ouellet's name has appeared in a legal proceeding.
This civil case represents more than 100 of his victims who were allegedly sexually assaulted by priests and other staff working for the parish since 1940.
According to class action documents, the assaults allegedly took place in the '50s and '60s.
Ouellet is by far the most prominent person named in the class action lawsuit and holds the highest position in the Catholic Church. The cardinal has not faced criminal charges.
His alleged victim, identified as 'F' in the document, was internship as a pastoral agent from 2008 until 2010 when the assault occurred. she said. She says they took place during a public event.
"He grabbed me and...his hand was placed on my back and dropped pretty low," said the plaintiff, who finally told Radio Canada's Enquete team. shared her version of what happened. Spring.
"It is very disturbing, for example, to my superior, the Archbishop of Quebec."
During that encounter, the Cardinal reportedly I told her it was the second time we had seen each other and that I should have kissed her on the cheek.
"It made me very uncomfortable, especially the word 'treat' myself." As if I were his cure.
The allegations shared by the woman with Enquete are the same as those found in the litigation documents.
On various occasions Ouellet held her close to his body, massaged her shoulders, and caressed her hard back "to where the buttocks begin", each time cuddling her.
``I felt like I was being chased. I tried to avoid being in his presence as much as possible," she said. Painted in 2010 when he was the Archbishop of (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)
Ouellet was archbishop and head of the diocese at the time of the alleged assault. According to Alain Arceneaux, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, he had final say over who was hired as pastoral representative. There were young women and powerful men in positions of power who were world-famous at the time, maybe 60," he said. "Like most victims, she froze."
When "F" shared her anxiety with those around her, she noted that the Cardinal was a warm man and that this sort of "he She was told that she was not the only woman who faced "problems with action read.
A priest active in the parish at the time told Enquete that rumors were circulating about the Cardinal's actions.
The priest, who wished to remain anonymous, was one of the clergymen a young woman told the cardinal about what had happened. He said they believed her claims.
"We couldn't get over it. He arrived like a sheriff who had come to bring order to the Diocese of Quebec. He was sent from Rome '' he said. "It turned out to be really strange to him that he behaved inappropriately towards a woman." Although it doesn't seem as physically serious as it is, the impact on the victim is just as important, Arsenault said.
"It is hard to imagine that an intelligent person, in his position, was unaware of what he was doing and the possible consequences of it," he said. Said.
Ouellet was recalled to Rome and in 2010 was promoted to Prefect of the Diocese, the Vatican department responsible for choosing new bishops. He was replaced by the current Archbishop of Quebec, Gerard Cyprien Lacroix, and things changed a lot.
"He was more accommodating. If there was any physical contact, it was a simple handshake," she said.
Complaints lodged with the Vatican
She went to see the commission and said, "I don't know if I was the victim, but this is my story."
"I felt the need to tell [them] that everything I had been through since I started working as a pastor was inadequate."
A member of the Society told her that both cases were cases of sexual misconduct and said she urged her to file a complaint. was known to the committee because the woman had not disclosed the man's name beforehand.
A complaint against Ouellet was filed directly with the Vatican in 2021. Jacques, the theologian charged with investigating the matter, was assigned to the priest Servais.
A virtual meeting was arranged between the victim and the Vatican, but a year and a half later, the woman said she had not yet been informed of the investigation's conclusions.