Cardinal Marc Ouellet filed a defamation lawsuit in a Quebec court on Tuesday against a woman who accuses him of sexually assaulting her while he was archbishop of Quebec.
Cardinal Ouellet, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, is seeking compensation of $100,000 for damage to his reputation, honor and dignity, according to a copy of the lawsuit provided by his office.
The woman, identified only as “F.”, is one of many participants in a class action lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Quebec in April, which accuses several priests, including Monsignor Ouellet, of sexual assault. The woman blames Bishop Ouellet for four incidents of inappropriate sexual touching in the late 2000s.
The request filed by Cardinal Ouellet on Tuesday before the Superior Court of Quebec again denies that he has anything to reproach himself with and repeats that he has no memory of having met the alleged victim.
Even if the allegations are true, the claim continues, the woman’s specific accusations regarding her alleged behavior do not constitute “sexual assault” or the sexual assault of a minor, which are the other crimes covered by the class action. .
The request adds that Cardinal Ouellet has suffered significant psychological anguish since the woman’s allegations were made public and his international reputation has been greatly tarnished.
Pope Francis has terminated the Church’s investigation into Cardinal Ouellet after the investigating priest who met with the alleged victim determined there was no need to prosecute, since the woman did not made accusations that would justify it.
Monsignor Ouellet’s lawyers have specified that any compensation obtained at the end of this lawsuit will be paid to the fight against sexual assault against Aboriginal people in Canada.
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