Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse By Prominent Quebec Cardinal And Priest

“F” said she met Ouellet over dinner in 2008 while serving as an intern for the Diocese of Quebec, according to the lawsuit. She claimed in the legal filing that later that night she “felt two hands land on her shoulders and begin to massage her shoulders forcefully. F looks up to see that it is Cardinal Marc Ouellet standing behind her and giving her shoulder massage. Cardinal Marc Well smiles at her and pats her back before leaving.”
In another incident in 2008, “F” contacted Well again, according to the lawsuit. Another priest asked if he knew ‘F’, according to the affidavit, ‘to which he replies very loudly that they both know each other very well. Cardinal Marc Ouellet then casually kisses ‘F’, even though they had seen each other another only once or twice before, and holds her tightly against him while stroking her back with his hands,” according to the lawsuit. “F” claimed that one of the last times she had contact with Ouellet was in February 2010. According to the lawsuit, Ouellet told her that he could kiss her again because “it’s not a bad thing to spoil a little.”
“F” said she didn’t say anything because she was worried her internship and professional future depended on Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. After attending sexual assault training, “F” began having flashbacks of what she said she had experienced with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. She realized that Ouellet’s interactions with her constituted non-consensual touching of a sexual nature and therefore sexual assault, according to the lawsuit, and decided to tell her new partner and some female friends. One of those friends advised her to speak to the Quebec Catholic Church’s Advisory Committee on Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Persons about those sexual assaults, according to the lawsuit. Well denied “making inappropriate gestures to her face” in a statement issued Friday by the Vatican press office. “Having been made aware of the false allegations against me by the complainant (F.), I vehemently deny that I made any inappropriate gestures towards her and find the interpretation and dissemination of these allegations as sexual assault defamatory,” Ouellet’s statement said. “If a political investigation is initiated, I intend to actively participate in it so that the truth can be established and my innocence recognized.” In a statement released by Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, he said that the preliminary investigation conducted by Fr. Jacques Servais, SI, at the Pope’s request, concluded “that there is no evidence to initiate a trial against Cardinal Ouellet for sexual assault.” “After further relevant consultations, Pope Francis states that there is insufficient evidence to launch a regular investigation into sexual assault by Cardinal Welle against Person F,” Bruni said in the statement. The Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec acknowledged the allegations made in the lawsuit against Cardinal Welle, but said it had no comment. Additionally, in the lawsuit, “F” described sexual assaults by another priest of the Diocese of Quebec, Father Leopold Manirabarusha.
“F” claimed she was forced to perform sexual acts for Manirabarusha while an employee of the diocese, according to the filing. She claimed in the lawsuit that one day Manirabarusha took her to his library and made it clear that he expected her to give him oral sex. “F” met his demands, seeing no other way out. On about 15 different occasions, according to the lawsuit, Manirabarusha sexually assaulted her in various places, including church property and a hotel. The Archdiocese of Quebec confirmed that Manirabarusha is still a Catholic priest and said, “but he has been out of service due to suspension since early April. So, until the whole case is settled, he cannot have any pastoral intervention with the people.” Cardinal Marc Ouellet has been one of the Vatican’s most prominent cardinals for over a decade. His name was raised during the 2013 Conclave as a possible pope, according to a CNN report from the time. He has headed the Vatican’s powerful Office of Bishops since 2010. The office is responsible for controlling and supervising Catholic bishops around the world and works closely with Pope Francis. Cardinal Ouellet usually meets weekly with the pope to update him on developments in his office, according to published minutes of the pope’s meetings. In 2019, when he turned 75, Ouellet submitted his resignation to Pope Francis as required by Vatican law, but Francis did not accept it, as CNN confirmed that Ouellet remains in office. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in an email to CNN, said it is unable to confirm whether there is a criminal investigation and that investigations are usually confirmed if and when criminal charges are proposed against someone. CNN reached out to Quebec City’s Director of Criminal and Criminal Prosecutions about possible criminal investigations and was told by email that he has no public information about this case at this time. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which has been providing support to victims of institutional sexual abuse for 30 years, issued a statement saying: “We applaud the bravery of all the victims involved in this case who have come forward. forward and hopefully they can get the justice and treatment they deserve. We particularly recognize that, given the high profile of the man who has accused, Cardinal Ouellet’s alleged victim will undoubtedly face intense public scrutiny, and we recognize that it took great courage for her to come forward.” CNN’s Nicola Ruotolo contributed to this report.

title: “Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse By Prominent Quebec Cardinal And Priest Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Charles Aguayo”

“F” said she met Ouellet over dinner in 2008 while serving as an intern for the Diocese of Quebec, according to the lawsuit. She claimed in the legal filing that later that night she “felt two hands land on her shoulders and begin to massage her shoulders forcefully. F looks up to see that it is Cardinal Marc Ouellet standing behind her and giving her shoulder massage. Cardinal Marc Well smiles at her and pats her back before leaving.”
In another incident in 2008, “F” contacted Well again, according to the lawsuit. Another priest asked if he knew ‘F’, according to the affidavit, ‘to which he replies very loudly that they both know each other very well. Cardinal Marc Ouellet then casually kisses ‘F’, even though they had seen each other another only once or twice before, and holds her tightly against him while stroking her back with his hands,” according to the lawsuit. “F” claimed that one of the last times she had contact with Ouellet was in February 2010. According to the lawsuit, Ouellet told her that he could kiss her again because “it’s not a bad thing to spoil a little.”
“F” said she didn’t say anything because she was worried her internship and professional future depended on Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. After attending sexual assault training, “F” began having flashbacks of what she said she had experienced with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. She realized that Ouellet’s interactions with her constituted non-consensual touching of a sexual nature and therefore sexual assault, according to the lawsuit, and decided to tell her new partner and some female friends. One of those friends advised her to speak to the Quebec Catholic Church’s Advisory Committee on Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Persons about those sexual assaults, according to the lawsuit. Well denied “making inappropriate gestures to her face” in a statement issued Friday by the Vatican press office. “Having been made aware of the false allegations against me by the complainant (F.), I vehemently deny that I made any inappropriate gestures towards her and find the interpretation and dissemination of these allegations as sexual assault defamatory,” Ouellet’s statement said. “If a political investigation is initiated, I intend to actively participate in it so that the truth can be established and my innocence recognized.” In a statement released by Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, he said that the preliminary investigation conducted by Fr. Jacques Servais, SI, at the Pope’s request, concluded “that there is no evidence to initiate a trial against Cardinal Ouellet for sexual assault.” “After further relevant consultations, Pope Francis states that there is insufficient evidence to launch a regular investigation into sexual assault by Cardinal Welle against Person F,” Bruni said in the statement. The Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec acknowledged the allegations made in the lawsuit against Cardinal Welle, but said it had no comment. Additionally, in the lawsuit, “F” described sexual assaults by another priest of the Diocese of Quebec, Father Leopold Manirabarusha.
“F” claimed she was forced to perform sexual acts for Manirabarusha while an employee of the diocese, according to the filing. She claimed in the lawsuit that one day Manirabarusha took her to his library and made it clear that he expected her to give him oral sex. “F” met his demands, seeing no other way out. On about 15 different occasions, according to the lawsuit, Manirabarusha sexually assaulted her in various places, including church property and a hotel. The Archdiocese of Quebec confirmed that Manirabarusha is still a Catholic priest and said, “but he has been out of service due to suspension since early April. So, until the whole case is settled, he cannot have any pastoral intervention with the people.” Cardinal Marc Ouellet has been one of the Vatican’s most prominent cardinals for over a decade. His name was raised during the 2013 Conclave as a possible pope, according to a CNN report from the time. He has headed the Vatican’s powerful Office of Bishops since 2010. The office is responsible for controlling and supervising Catholic bishops around the world and works closely with Pope Francis. Cardinal Ouellet usually meets weekly with the pope to update him on developments in his office, according to published minutes of the pope’s meetings. In 2019, when he turned 75, Ouellet submitted his resignation to Pope Francis as required by Vatican law, but Francis did not accept it, as CNN confirmed that Ouellet remains in office. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in an email to CNN, said it is unable to confirm whether there is a criminal investigation and that investigations are usually confirmed if and when criminal charges are proposed against someone. CNN reached out to Quebec City’s Director of Criminal and Criminal Prosecutions about possible criminal investigations and was told by email that he has no public information about this case at this time. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which has been providing support to victims of institutional sexual abuse for 30 years, issued a statement saying: “We applaud the bravery of all the victims involved in this case who have come forward. forward and hopefully they can get the justice and treatment they deserve. We particularly recognize that, given the high profile of the man who has accused, Cardinal Ouellet’s alleged victim will undoubtedly face intense public scrutiny, and we recognize that it took great courage for her to come forward.” CNN’s Nicola Ruotolo contributed to this report.

title: “Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse By Prominent Quebec Cardinal And Priest Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-03” author: “Joyce Gordon”

“F” said she met Ouellet over dinner in 2008 while serving as an intern for the Diocese of Quebec, according to the lawsuit. She claimed in the legal filing that later that night she “felt two hands land on her shoulders and begin to massage her shoulders forcefully. F looks up to see that it is Cardinal Marc Ouellet standing behind her and giving her shoulder massage. Cardinal Marc Well smiles at her and pats her back before leaving.”
In another incident in 2008, “F” contacted Well again, according to the lawsuit. Another priest asked if he knew ‘F’, according to the affidavit, ‘to which he replies very loudly that they both know each other very well. Cardinal Marc Ouellet then casually kisses ‘F’, even though they had seen each other another only once or twice before, and holds her tightly against him while stroking her back with his hands,” according to the lawsuit. “F” claimed that one of the last times she had contact with Ouellet was in February 2010. According to the lawsuit, Ouellet told her that he could kiss her again because “it’s not a bad thing to spoil a little.”
“F” said she didn’t say anything because she was worried her internship and professional future depended on Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. After attending sexual assault training, “F” began having flashbacks of what she said she had experienced with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. She realized that Ouellet’s interactions with her constituted non-consensual touching of a sexual nature and therefore sexual assault, according to the lawsuit, and decided to tell her new partner and some female friends. One of those friends advised her to speak to the Quebec Catholic Church’s Advisory Committee on Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Persons about those sexual assaults, according to the lawsuit. Well denied “making inappropriate gestures to her face” in a statement issued Friday by the Vatican press office. “Having been made aware of the false allegations against me by the complainant (F.), I vehemently deny that I made any inappropriate gestures towards her and find the interpretation and dissemination of these allegations as sexual assault defamatory,” Ouellet’s statement said. “If a political investigation is initiated, I intend to actively participate in it so that the truth can be established and my innocence recognized.” In a statement released by Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, he said that the preliminary investigation conducted by Fr. Jacques Servais, SI, at the Pope’s request, concluded “that there is no evidence to initiate a trial against Cardinal Ouellet for sexual assault.” “After further relevant consultations, Pope Francis states that there is insufficient evidence to launch a regular investigation into sexual assault by Cardinal Welle against Person F,” Bruni said in the statement. The Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec acknowledged the allegations made in the lawsuit against Cardinal Welle, but said it had no comment. Additionally, in the lawsuit, “F” described sexual assaults by another priest of the Diocese of Quebec, Father Leopold Manirabarusha.
“F” claimed she was forced to perform sexual acts for Manirabarusha while an employee of the diocese, according to the filing. She claimed in the lawsuit that one day Manirabarusha took her to his library and made it clear that he expected her to give him oral sex. “F” met his demands, seeing no other way out. On about 15 different occasions, according to the lawsuit, Manirabarusha sexually assaulted her in various places, including church property and a hotel. The Archdiocese of Quebec confirmed that Manirabarusha is still a Catholic priest and said, “but he has been out of service due to suspension since early April. So, until the whole case is settled, he cannot have any pastoral intervention with the people.” Cardinal Marc Ouellet has been one of the Vatican’s most prominent cardinals for over a decade. His name was raised during the 2013 Conclave as a possible pope, according to a CNN report from the time. He has headed the Vatican’s powerful Office of Bishops since 2010. The office is responsible for controlling and supervising Catholic bishops around the world and works closely with Pope Francis. Cardinal Ouellet usually meets weekly with the pope to update him on developments in his office, according to published minutes of the pope’s meetings. In 2019, when he turned 75, Ouellet submitted his resignation to Pope Francis as required by Vatican law, but Francis did not accept it, as CNN confirmed that Ouellet remains in office. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in an email to CNN, said it is unable to confirm whether there is a criminal investigation and that investigations are usually confirmed if and when criminal charges are proposed against someone. CNN reached out to Quebec City’s Director of Criminal and Criminal Prosecutions about possible criminal investigations and was told by email that he has no public information about this case at this time. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which has been providing support to victims of institutional sexual abuse for 30 years, issued a statement saying: “We applaud the bravery of all the victims involved in this case who have come forward. forward and hopefully they can get the justice and treatment they deserve. We particularly recognize that, given the high profile of the man who has accused, Cardinal Ouellet’s alleged victim will undoubtedly face intense public scrutiny, and we recognize that it took great courage for her to come forward.” CNN’s Nicola Ruotolo contributed to this report.

title: “Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse By Prominent Quebec Cardinal And Priest Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Mary Buell”

“F” said she met Ouellet over dinner in 2008 while serving as an intern for the Diocese of Quebec, according to the lawsuit. She claimed in the legal filing that later that night she “felt two hands land on her shoulders and begin to massage her shoulders forcefully. F looks up to see that it is Cardinal Marc Ouellet standing behind her and giving her shoulder massage. Cardinal Marc Well smiles at her and pats her back before leaving.”
In another incident in 2008, “F” contacted Well again, according to the lawsuit. Another priest asked if he knew ‘F’, according to the affidavit, ‘to which he replies very loudly that they both know each other very well. Cardinal Marc Ouellet then casually kisses ‘F’, even though they had seen each other another only once or twice before, and holds her tightly against him while stroking her back with his hands,” according to the lawsuit. “F” claimed that one of the last times she had contact with Ouellet was in February 2010. According to the lawsuit, Ouellet told her that he could kiss her again because “it’s not a bad thing to spoil a little.”
“F” said she didn’t say anything because she was worried her internship and professional future depended on Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. After attending sexual assault training, “F” began having flashbacks of what she said she had experienced with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. She realized that Ouellet’s interactions with her constituted non-consensual touching of a sexual nature and therefore sexual assault, according to the lawsuit, and decided to tell her new partner and some female friends. One of those friends advised her to speak to the Quebec Catholic Church’s Advisory Committee on Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Persons about those sexual assaults, according to the lawsuit. Well denied “making inappropriate gestures to her face” in a statement issued Friday by the Vatican press office. “Having been made aware of the false allegations against me by the complainant (F.), I vehemently deny that I made any inappropriate gestures towards her and find the interpretation and dissemination of these allegations as sexual assault defamatory,” Ouellet’s statement said. “If a political investigation is initiated, I intend to actively participate in it so that the truth can be established and my innocence recognized.” In a statement released by Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, he said that the preliminary investigation conducted by Fr. Jacques Servais, SI, at the Pope’s request, concluded “that there is no evidence to initiate a trial against Cardinal Ouellet for sexual assault.” “After further relevant consultations, Pope Francis states that there is insufficient evidence to launch a regular investigation into sexual assault by Cardinal Welle against Person F,” Bruni said in the statement. The Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec acknowledged the allegations made in the lawsuit against Cardinal Welle, but said it had no comment. Additionally, in the lawsuit, “F” described sexual assaults by another priest of the Diocese of Quebec, Father Leopold Manirabarusha.
“F” claimed she was forced to perform sexual acts for Manirabarusha while an employee of the diocese, according to the filing. She claimed in the lawsuit that one day Manirabarusha took her to his library and made it clear that he expected her to give him oral sex. “F” met his demands, seeing no other way out. On about 15 different occasions, according to the lawsuit, Manirabarusha sexually assaulted her in various places, including church property and a hotel. The Archdiocese of Quebec confirmed that Manirabarusha is still a Catholic priest and said, “but he has been out of service due to suspension since early April. So, until the whole case is settled, he cannot have any pastoral intervention with the people.” Cardinal Marc Ouellet has been one of the Vatican’s most prominent cardinals for over a decade. His name was raised during the 2013 Conclave as a possible pope, according to a CNN report from the time. He has headed the Vatican’s powerful Office of Bishops since 2010. The office is responsible for controlling and supervising Catholic bishops around the world and works closely with Pope Francis. Cardinal Ouellet usually meets weekly with the pope to update him on developments in his office, according to published minutes of the pope’s meetings. In 2019, when he turned 75, Ouellet submitted his resignation to Pope Francis as required by Vatican law, but Francis did not accept it, as CNN confirmed that Ouellet remains in office. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in an email to CNN, said it is unable to confirm whether there is a criminal investigation and that investigations are usually confirmed if and when criminal charges are proposed against someone. CNN reached out to Quebec City’s Director of Criminal and Criminal Prosecutions about possible criminal investigations and was told by email that he has no public information about this case at this time. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which has been providing support to victims of institutional sexual abuse for 30 years, issued a statement saying: “We applaud the bravery of all the victims involved in this case who have come forward. forward and hopefully they can get the justice and treatment they deserve. We particularly recognize that, given the high profile of the man who has accused, Cardinal Ouellet’s alleged victim will undoubtedly face intense public scrutiny, and we recognize that it took great courage for her to come forward.” CNN’s Nicola Ruotolo contributed to this report.