It is unlikely that Abbé Pierre will be removed from the National Order of Quebec, despite accusations of sexual assault against several women.
The Ministry of the Executive Council, which oversees the Secretariat of the National Order of Quebec, indicated to the Duty having “taken note of the allegations” against the Catholic priest and “is following the situation closely”. However, he specifies that he has not initiated the process of removing one of his members posthumously.
The ministry reminds that “the procedures for revoking a title begin with a judgment of guilt or undeniable proof which, in the eyes of the public, demonstrates unacceptable behaviour incompatible with the values and principles of the National Order of Quebec.”
The Council of the Order, an independent committee of nine people, can recommend the removal of a member to the Prime Minister. It is the latter who must decide, stipulates the Act respecting the National Order of Quebec.
The office of Prime Minister François Legault did not want to react to the revelations about Abbé Pierre. His press attaché, Ewan Sauves, instead invited The duty to write to the Order’s communications department. The latter indicated that it could not comment publicly on the matter.
But in December, Mr. Legault reacted strongly to the scandal surrounding Gérard Depardieu in December by declaring that “his behavior” had “tainted the reputation of the members of the Order.”
The French actor was stripped of the highest distinction awarded by the Quebec government after the Order’s leaders recommended his removal from the rolls to the Prime Minister, despite a regulation that provides for removal only in the event of a judicial conviction by a court.
Controversial toponymy
The name of Abbé Pierre is not only visible on a badge of honour, it is also found in public spaces.
The City of Quebec has no immediate plans to change the name of the street that honours it in the Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge borough. However, it is currently “reflecting on the toponyms that have been criticized in its territory,” said its spokesperson Jean-Pascal Lavoie. “The case of Abbé Pierre will be considered as part of this reflection.”
As revealed The duty In March, its Toponymy Commission had already been contacted by citizens who were uncomfortable with other street names. This is particularly the case for Moncton Avenue, which bears the name of a general who played a key role in the deportation of the Acadians, or Christophe-Colomb Street, which some people blame for the wrongs caused to Indigenous people.
The City of Terrebonne says it has taken note of the information concerning Abbé Pierre. It will bring it all to the attention of the Toponymy Advisory Committee. This is the first time the City has faced this type of situation, the municipality’s communications department indicates.
A famous defender of the most deprived and a personality adored by the French, Abbé Pierre, whose real name was Henri Grouès, died in 2007 at the age of 94. Last Wednesday, an independent report reported the testimonies of sexual assaults by seven women, including one who was a minor. The events allegedly occurred between the end of the 1970s and 2005.
No posthumous radiation
In recent years, the National Order of Quebec has also looked into the case of Jean Vanier, a prominent Catholic figure and founder of L’Arche, a charity. Mr. Vanier was accused of sexually assaulting at least six women in a report released in 2020, less than a year after his death.
“The Council of the National Order of Quebec has not initiated the process of removing one of its deceased members,” stated the Ministry of the Executive Council, questioned on Mr. Vanier’s file.
“The Secretariat of the National Order had become aware of the allegations against Mr. Jean Vanier and had followed the situation closely,” said the ministry, which ultimately did not strip him of his title. At the time, data revealed that no member appointed since the creation of the distinction in 1985 had been removed.
“Given that Mr. Vanier is deceased and was never the subject of a criminal conviction during his lifetime, it is very unlikely that the Council will review his case again, unless the file evolves,” the ministry concluded.
With Alexandre Robillard