Pope Francis considers that there is no reason to open an investigation into the allegations of sexual assault against Cardinal Marc Ouellet.
“There are no grounds to open an investigation into the sexual assault of Person F. by Cardinal M. Ouellet,” read a statement released by the Holy See Press Office.
“Neither in his report written and sent to the Holy Father nor in the testimony via Zoom that I subsequently collected in the presence of a member of the ad hoc diocesan committee, did this person make an accusation that would provide material for such an investigation,” it added.
The name of Cardinal Ouellet appears in a class action for sexual assault which targets 88 priests of the Diocese of Quebec. According to the document, a young woman nicknamed “F” felt “like being chased” by the cardinal who allegedly massaged her, kissed her familiarly and touched her buttocks.
The charges allegedly occurred between 2008 and 2010. “F” also alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Father Léopold Manirabarusha between 2016 and 2018.
Pope Francis would have previously asked to investigate the actions of the cardinal who was appointed prefect of the Congregation of Bishops in Rome in 2010, the first Quebecer to become prefect of a Roman congregation.
He would have appointed Father Jacques Servais to investigate Marc Ouellet.
The introductory application for class action underlines that “Father Jacques Servais seems to have little information and training on sexual assaults in addition to being possibly a collaborator of Cardinal Marc Ouellet” and that as of summer 2022, “no conclusion concerning the complaints against Cardinal Marc Ouellet has been transmitted to F”.
To see in video