Pope Francis investigated 2nd Cardinal Ouellet’s allegation of misconduct

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Pope Francis has reviewed a second accusation of sexual misconduct against Vatican Cardinal Marc Ouellet, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Quebec confirmed Thursday.

The spokesperson told the Quebec news agency Presence on January 19 that the allegation of misconduct against the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops had been reported to Cardinal Grad Lacroix, archbishop of Quebec.

As soon as Cardinal Grad C. Lacroix received this complaint, it was immediately transmitted to Cardinal Ouellet’s immediate superior, Pope Francis, as provided for in the procedure established by the motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi on the treatment of abuses committed or concealed by a bishop, the spokesman said.

The spokesperson was responding to a January 18 report by the French Catholic magazine Golias, which said a woman identified as Marie had made unspecified allegations of misconduct against Ouellet, believed to date back to 2008 and 2009, when Cardinal was archbishop. of Quebec.

Citing correspondence between Marie and Lacroix, the magazine said Lacroix conveyed the allegations to the pope in September 2020.

Lacroix reportedly wrote to Marie on June 23, 2021, saying Ouellet had been the subject of a preliminary investigation under the 2019 motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi. But he said the pope had reviewed a report on the allegation. and had found no reason to open a formal canonical process.

Ouellet announced in December that he was suing a woman for defamation after she accused him of sexual assault, alleging the cardinal had inappropriately hugged, hugged and kissed her during his tenure as archbishop of Quebec. from 2003 to 2010.

The 78-year-old said he was bringing a defamation action in the Quebec courts in order to prove the falsity of the allegations made against him, as well as restore his reputation and honour.

The woman, initially identified only as F, recently waved her anonymity, identifying herself as Pamla Groleau.

The allegation was filed as part of a class action lawsuit brought by 101 people, who say they were victims of clerical abuse in the Archdiocese of Quebec, dating back to 1940.

The Vatican said in an Aug. 18 statement that following a preliminary investigation, Pope Francis concluded there was insufficient evidence to open a formal canonical trial for sexual assault.

The new report, written by Golias editor Christian Terras, also claimed that a member of the Maries family had been told by an intermediary to expect a phone call from the father. Jacques Servais, who conducted the preliminary investigation of the other claim made against Ouellet.

Terras claimed that Jacques Servais never met Marie, including virtually, nor sought to have an interview with her, Presence news agency reported.

Servais, who is not a canon lawyer, is the director of Casa Balthasar, a formation house run by the Lubac-Balthasar-Speyr Association, of which Ouellet sits on the board of directors.

Radio-Canada reported on January 20 that Cardinal Ouellet had released a statement commenting on the second allegation against him.

I confirm that I have voluntarily participated in the investigation of this complaint and that I have cooperated fully in this regard. I have nothing to hide and have acted transparently in this process, he said.

According to Radio-Canada, the cardinal, who denied any wrongdoing, added that he had been told that the complaint had been dismissed in part because the complainant had chosen, after filing her complaint, not to meet with the people responsible for of the investigation.

This report was updated on January 21, 2023 to include Cardinal Ouellet’s statement.

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