Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet accused of sexual assault

By The Canadian Press

Québec Cardinal Marc Ouellet is being accused of sexual assault in a class-action lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese.

In court documents introduced today in Superior Court, an unnamed woman accuses the prominent cleric of kissing her at a cocktail reception in 2008 and sliding his hand down her back and touching her buttocks.

The allegations are part of a series of claims made against clergy members that are included in two class-action lawsuits against the church that have been authorized by a judge.

Montreal-based law firm Arsenault Dufresne Wee Avocats says that in the first lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Québec, about 101 alleged victims have accused about 88 priests or other clergy members of sexual assault.

marc ouellet

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, left, talks with Cardinal Vincent Nichols before the start of an event at the Vatican on October 12, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Alessandra Tarantino.


In the second lawsuit against the Brothers of the Christian Schools of Francophone Canada, 193 alleged victims have accused 116 members of that organization of sexual assault.

The documents tabled in court today contain the detailed accusations against the clergy members — including Cardinal Ouellet — following the authorization of the class actions.

Ouellet has been the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

The 78-year-old was Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada from 2003 to 2010.

In 2018, Ouellet, when previously discussing the priestly sexual abuse crisis, said, “We will need more participation of women in the formation of priests, in teaching, in the discernment of candidates and their emotional balance.”


With files from Lucas Casaletto

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