Prominent Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet denies 2nd sexual misconduct allegation | 24CA News
Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet is denying allegations of sexual misconduct made in opposition to him by a girl in 2020.
On Friday, the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Quebec City confirmed that it had acquired a second grievance in opposition to Ouellet, the previous archbishop within the provincial capital.
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A Vatican investigation was carried out within the wake of the second grievance in opposition to Ouellet, however Pope Francis determined “not to retain the accusation against the cardinal” who now serves as head of the Vatican’s bishops’ workplace
In a written assertion despatched to media right now, Ouellet confirmed his participation within the investigation and says he has “nothing to hide,” including he acted with “complete transparency” throughout all the course of.
Ouellet denies having dedicated any “reprehensible behaviour” in direction of the lady and says no grievance has been filed in opposition to him in civil or legal court docket.
Allegations in regards to the cardinal first surfaced final summer season in a class-action lawsuit in opposition to the archdiocese of Quebec, and final week one of many complainants revealed her identification and accused the Catholic Church of attempting to silence her by way of “threats and intimidation.”
Pamela Groleau, considered one of 140 complainants behind the go well with, stated she initially stored her identification secret to guard her household, her job and her psychological well being.
In the lawsuit, Groleau accused Ouellet of a number of incidents of sexual assault between 2008 — when she was 23 — and 2010, together with sliding his hand down her again and touching her buttocks at an occasion in Quebec City.
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The allegations haven’t been examined in court docket, and Ouellet final month countersued Groleau in Quebec Superior Court for defamation, denying the allegations and looking for $100,000 in damages
The second allegation was reported this week by the French Catholic weekly Golias Hebdo, which additionally printed a letter with the lady’s title redacted – dated June 23, 2021. In the letter, present Quebec City archbishop Gerald Cyprien Lacroix knowledgeable her that her grievance wouldn’t be pursued.
