Cardinal Lacroix categorically denies the allegation which he deems unfounded but steps aside until the situation is clarified.
Newsroom ( 29/01/2024 Gaudium Press) Gerald Cardinal Lacroix, a top Canadian clergyman and member of the Council of Cardinals advising the pope, “Steps Down” on a temporary basis following a sexual abuse lawsuit from a 17-year old. Cardinal Lacroix categorically denies the allegation which he deems unfounded but steps aside until the situation is clarified. This statement was officially released by the archdiocese.
Cardinal Lacroix has been the archbishop of Quebec since 2011 and cardinal since 2014. He said that he would be issuing a personal communication to his diocesans in Quebec in the coming days.
The Accusation
The lawsuit filed last week is a continuation of a class action lawsuit from 2022 filed against the archdiocese. Court documents allege two incidents in 1987 and 1988 when he was a religious brother wherein he is accused of inappropriately touching a 17-year old girl.
Cardinal Lacroix’s predecessor, Card. Marc Ouellet was also accused a year and a half ago and it should be noted that Cardinal Ouellet filed a lawsuit against his accuser for defamation and defended his innocence and Pope Francis determined that there was insufficient evidence to start a canonical investigation. Neither of the two clergymen have been criminally charged.
Meanwhile, Arsenault Defresne Wee Advocats who filed the lawsuit against Cardinal Lacroix has also filed many other class-action lawsuits against other religious orders and Catholic dioceses. The investigation continues to unfold.
Compiled by Chris Hurst with files from Reuters, NC Register CNA, Sunday Advisor, and Quebec Archdiocese Press release.
