The Vatican said on Thursday that a preliminary church investigation into allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Cardinal Mark Ouerretby a Canadian woman led to the case. announced that it has been confirmed. It does not guarantee further investigation.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a class action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec that he accused several priests of sexual abuse or assault. released a statement in response to reports this week that he was one of them.
Ouellet, 78, became a powerful head of the Vatican's bishop's office, where he headed the Archdiocese of Quebec from 2002 until 2010. In that role, he oversees all investigations by theCatholic Churchinto allegations of adult and bishop and cardinal sexual misconduct.
Bruni confirmed that the allegations against Ouellet were received by the Vatican and investigated by Jesuit theologian Reverend Jacques Servais. Servais determined there was no basis for further formal investigations or trials, Bruni said.
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Ask About Lawsuits Servais said he reached that conclusion after reading the written allegations made by the woman identified as "F" and interviewing her via Zoom with members of the parish attending the committee.
"This person did not bring forward any accusations that could serve as the basis for an investigation," the Vatican statement quoted Servais as saying.
Pope Francis therefore "declared that there were not enough factors to initiate a formal investigation into the sexual assault by Cardinal Ouellet against his F.," Bruni's statement said.
The Catholic Church has fine-tuned procedures for investigating and sanctioning priests accused of sexual misconduct with minors, but it has Punitive action is rarely taken against accused clerics. , was quoted by the Canadian Press and other media outlets as accusing Ouellet of making multiple unwanted touches, including touching her buttocks.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
