The Vatican will not investigate allegations of sexual assault against Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Pope Francis confirmed Thursday, saying he does not have “sufficient evidence” to move forward. A decision that outrages the complainant’s lawyer and associations fighting against sexual violence.
Updated yesterday at 5:35 p.m.
“Pope Francis declares that there are not sufficient elements to open a canonical investigation for sexual assault by Cardinal Ouellet against person F,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement. a brief statement.
It is thus based on the opinion of Father Jacques Servais, who had been responsible for investigating the file in January 2021, after the complainant had written a letter to Pope Francis. However, “the victim never received a report”, affirms his lawyer, Me Alain Arsenault. “It’s the first time we’ve seen a conclusion from Father Servais in a year and a half,” he was indignant.
According to our information, MM. Ouellet and Servais know each other very well. Father Servais was also part of the committee of experts who helped Cardinal Ouellet organize his symposium on the priesthood at the beginning of the year.
Me Arsenault, also responsible for the collective action against the diocese of Quebec, does not say he is surprised by this announcement, “given the habit of the Catholic Church of not seeing what must be seen and of camouflage when it is is too obvious”. The lawyer judges that this decision of the pope is contradictory compared to his statements during his visit to Quebec last month. “In July, he apologized for the actions of the clergy. At the first important case that comes to him, he says that there are not enough, ”laments Me Arsenault.
PHOTO REMO CASILLI, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Pope Francis and Cardinal Marc Ouellet, last February
On Tuesday, Cardinal Marc Ouellet was first targeted by allegations of sexual assault in a court document. Aged 78 and current prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Mr.gr Ouellet allegedly indulged in inappropriate touching of an intern between 2008 and 2010, when he was Archbishop of Quebec.
The plaintiff accuses Cardinal Ouellet of massages, caresses of the back “up to his buttocks” and inappropriate comments.
The young woman feared the cardinal so much that she had to “flee” him during public meetings, she argues in the court document.
Unusual fact: the press release directly quotes the declarations of Father Servais. “There is no reason to open an investigation for the sexual assault of person F. by Cardinal Marc Ouellet,” he said. “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, this person has not made an accusation that would provide material for such an investigation”, also wrote Father Servais.
“Disguise when it’s too obvious”
Roger Lessard, spokesperson for victims of sexual assault of priests, agrees with Alain Arsenault. ” I’m not surprised. It proves to what extent the Pope trivializes the actions of Cardinal Ouellet,” he said. He fears that the exclusion of an investigation into the cardinal will deter victims from denouncing their attacker. “It is very unfortunate for the victims. The pope sends a clear message. It’s taking the victims for fools, ”he exclaims.
For the co-founder of Quebec against sexual violence, Mélanie Lemay, the pope’s refusal to launch an investigation “just proves that the Vatican is a huge boy club “. ” A boyfriendit’s a boyfriend. We have a good demonstration of it here, ”she continues.
“It is all the same particular coming from a pope who claims to want to shed light on abuses in the Church to take a position like that. For me, this confirms the need for investigations into sexual violence not to be in the hands of institutions which are themselves denounced, because they are always judges and parties, ”insists Ms.me Lemay.
There is a flagrant lack of rigor. We have to change the way things are done, and it is urgent.
Mélanie Lemay, co-founder of Quebec Against Sexual Violence
At the Network of Crime Victims Assistance Centers (CAVAC), spokesperson Marie-Christine Villeneuve says the situation is “disappointing”, even “discouraging”, for many victims.
“Victims may have the impression that with these kinds of decisions, we do not take into consideration what they have experienced and the consequences it has on them. It can also give the impression that the aggressor is protected. And it’s completely legitimate, and normal, that they feel like that in the context, ”she says.
With Louis-Samuel Perron, The Pressand Agence France-Presse