Canadian cardinal temporarily steps down after sexual assault accusations

Accused of“touching” by a woman, Canadian Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix denies “categorically” having been the author of sexual assault, denouncing “baseless allegations”. He “has just announced to his main collaborators that he is [retirait] temporarily from its activities until the situation is clarified”detailed a press release from the diocese of Quebec, Friday January 26.

Aged 66, the man who has been archbishop of Quebec since 2011 and cardinal since 2014 is implicated by a woman, aged 17 at the time of the facts according to Radio-Canada. As part of a collective action targeting more than a hundred members of the diocese of Quebec, this woman assures that the religious leader allegedly touched her.

A close advisor to the pope

Launched in 2022, this collective action brings together the testimonies of 147 people saying they have been “sexually assaulted by more than a hundred priests or members of the staff of the diocese, some of whom had several victims or were part of the senior clergy of Quebec”, according to the victims’ lawyers. Facts would have occurred between 1987 and 1988 in Quebec, again according to Radio-Canada.

Since last year, Gérald Cyprien Lacroix has been one of the nine members of the council of cardinals set up by Pope Francis to assist him in the government of the Church, which meets regularly at the Vatican. Appointed by the sovereign pontiff, the cardinals’ mission is to assist him in the government of the Church. Those aged under 80 participate in the conclave responsible for electing his successor.