Prominent Quebec cardinal named in sexual assault lawsuit against Quebec diocese

The name of a prominent Vatican cardinal, who is regarded as a potential successor to Pope Francis, appears on a list made public as part of a new class action against the Quebec diocese, Radio-Canada's investigative program Enquête has found.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who was the archbishop of Quebec when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was taking place, is among some 88 members of the clergy who are facing allegations of sexual assault. It's the first time Ouellet's name appears in the legal proceedings.

The civil lawsuit represents more than 100 victims who were allegedly sexually assaulted, most of them as minors, by priests and other staff working for the diocese since 1940. 

Most of the assaults allegedly took place in the 50s and 60s, according to the class action documents. 

Ouellet is by far the most prominent person among those listed in the class action, and the one with the highest-ranking position in the Catholic Church. The cardinal is not facing any criminal accusations.

His alleged victim, who is identified as "F" in the documents, was doing an internship as a pastoral agent from 2008 to 2010 when she says the assaults occurred. She says they took place during public events.

"He grabbed me and then … his hands on my back, they went down pretty low," said the complainant, who shared her version of what happened to Radio-Canada's Enquête team last spring. 

"Quite intrusive for, let's say for someone who is my superior, who is the archbishop of Quebec."

During that encounter, the cardinal allegedly told her it's the second time they had seen each other that week and he might as well kiss her again, since there is no harm in treating himself a little.

"That made me very uncomfortable, especially the word 'treating' himself. As if I was his treat," she said.

The allegations the woman shared with Enquête are the same ones found in the lawsuit documents.

On different occasions, Ouellet allegedly held the woman against his body, massaged her shoulders or vigorously caressed her back "down to the spot where the buttocks start," each time making her feel very uncomfortable.

"I felt chased after. It became more and more invasive, more and more intense to the point where I stopped attending events. I tried avoiding being in his presence as much as possible," she said.

At the time, Ouellet was the archbishop and the head of the diocese. He had the final say in who was hired as a pastoral agent, according to Alain Arseneault, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.