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Reuters
Vatican Cardinal Mark Ouellet is the highest-ranking cleric accused in Canadian court documents released Tuesday as part of a class action lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Quebec alleging sexual assault, plaintiffs say.
According to court documents and a news release issued by the court, the case was alleged to have been sexually assaulted by 88 priests and staff members who had worked in the Diocese of Quebec since 1940. Represents more than 100 people, including minors, who are Class action lawsuit Arsenault Dufresne Wee.
In a lawsuit filed in the High Court of Quebec, an anonymous plaintiff alleges that Ouellet inappropriately touched her, including by rubbing her shoulders and back, and made her feel uncomfortable.
According to the document, between 2008 and 2010, Ouellet was Archbishop of Quebec and Rector of Quebec, while working as a 23-year-old intern. , this exchange took place. Ouellet has not faced criminal charges.
A Vatican spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.A call late Tuesday to the Vatican's residence and office in Ouellet was not answered. A representative for the Diocese of Quebec declined to comment. Reuters was unable to immediately identify the cardinal's attorney.
Ouellet now heads the Vatican's powerful bishopric, advising the Pope on which priests should be made bishops. He is on many experts' short lists as possible successors to Pope Francis after his death or resignation.
He is one of his two Canadian Cardinals stationed at the Vatican, and he accompanied Pope Francis on his visit to Canada last month.
The women's complaint against Ouellet was lodged directly with the Vatican in 2021 and assigned to theologian Priest Jacques Servais, who was tasked with investigating the matter. The woman didn't know the conclusion yet, she said, filing said.
The class action lawsuit was approved to proceed in May. Arsenault said he expects the number of class-action victims to rise after Tuesday's filing. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil, Ottawa; Allison Lampert, Montreal; Philip Pullella, Rome; Editing by Howard Goller)
