In that lawsuit, a girl recognized as “F” alleges she was touched towards her will by Cardinal Marc Ouellet and pressured to carry out intercourse acts on one other priest, Father Leopold Manirabarusha.
“F” stated she met Ouellet throughout dinner in 2008 whereas serving as an intern for the Diocese of Quebec, in accordance with the lawsuit. She claimed within the authorized submitting that later that night she “feels two hands land on her shoulders and begin to massage her shoulders with force. F looks up to see that it is Cardinal Marc Ouellet who stands behind her and massages her shoulders. Cardinal Marc Ouellet smiles at her and strokes her back before leaving.”
In one other incident in 2008, “F'” got here in touch with Ouellet once more, in accordance with the lawsuit. Another priest requested if he knew “F,” in accordance with the submitting, “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 only seen each other once or twice before, and holds her firmly against him while stroking her back with his hands,” in accordance with the lawsuit.
“F” claimed one of many final occasions she got here in touch with Ouellet was in February 2010. According to the lawsuit, Ouellet advised her he might kiss her once more as a result of “there is no harm in spoiling yourself a little.”
“F” stated she did not say something as a result of she was frightened her internship and skilled future trusted Ouellet, in accordance with the lawsuit.
After attending a coaching on sexual assault, “F” began having flashbacks of what she stated she had skilled with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, in accordance with the lawsuit. She realized that Ouellet’s interactions along with her constituted touching of a sexual nature with out consent and subsequently sexual assault, in accordance with the lawsuit, and determined to inform her new companion and a couple of feminine associates.
One of those associates suggested her to speak to the Advisory Committee for Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable People of the Catholic Church of Quebec about these sexual assaults, in accordance with the lawsuit.
Ouellet denied “having made inappropriate gestures on her person” in a press release launched Friday by the Vatican press workplace.
“Having become aware of the false accusations made against me by the complainant (F.), I firmly deny having made inappropriate gestures on her person and I consider the interpretation and dissemination of these accusations as sexual assaults defamatory,” Ouellet’s assertion stated. “If a civil inquiry were to be opened, I intend to actively participate in it so that the truth is established and my innocence recognized.”
A press release launched by Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press workplace, stated a preliminary investigation carried out by Fr. Jacques Servais, S.I., on the Pope’s request, concluded “that there are no elements to initiate a trial against Cardinal Ouellet for sexual assault.”
“Following further pertinent consultations, Pope Francis declares that there are insufficient elements to open a canonical investigation for sexual assault by Cardinal Ouellet against the person F,” Bruni stated within the assertion.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec acknowledged the allegations made within the lawsuit towards Cardinal Ouellet however stated it has no remark.
Additionally, within the lawsuit, “F” described sexual assaults by one other priest of the Diocese of Quebec, Father Leopold Manirabarusha.
“F” alleged she was pressured to carry out intercourse acts for Manirabarusha whereas she was an worker of the diocese, in accordance with the submitting. She alleged within the lawsuit that at some point Manirabarusha took her to his library and made it clear he anticipated her to carry out oral intercourse on him. “F” complied together with his calls for, seeing no different means out.
On about 15 totally different events, in accordance with the lawsuit, Manirabarusha sexually assaulted her in numerous locations, together with church property and a resort.
The Archdiocese of Quebec confirmed Manirabarusha continues to be a Catholic priest and stated, “but he has been off-duty for a suspension since the beginning of April. So, until the whole affair is settled, he cannot have any pastoral intervention with people.”
Cardinal Marc Ouellet has been one of the vital prominent Vatican cardinals for over a decade. His identify was raised through the Conclave of 2013 as a attainable Pope, in accordance with CNN reporting from the time.
He has headed the highly effective Vatican workplace of Bishops since 2010. The workplace is chargeable for vetting and overseeing Catholic bishops worldwide and works carefully with Pope Francis. Cardinal Ouellet sometimes meets weekly with the Pope to maintain him knowledgeable of developments in his workplace, in accordance with revealed bulletins of the Pope’s conferences.
In 2019, upon turning 75, Ouellet submitted his resignation to Pope Francis as required by Vatican regulation, however Francis didn’t settle for it, as CNN has confirmed that Ouellet stays in his place.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in an e mail to CNN, stated it’s unable to substantiate if there’s a felony investigation and that investigations are often confirmed if and when felony prices are advisable towards somebody.
CNN has reached out to the Quebec City Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions about attainable felony investigations and was advised by way of e mail it has no public data regarding this case for the second.
SNAP, the Survivors Network of these Abused by Priests, which has been offering help for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years, launched a press release saying: “We applaud the bravery of all the victims who are involved in this case for coming forward and hope they are able to receive the justice and healing they deserve. We especially recognize that given the prominence of the man who she has accused, the alleged victim of Cardinal Ouellet will no doubt receive intense public scrutiny, and we recognize that for her to have come forward has taken considerable courage.”
CNN’s Nicola Ruotolo contributed to this report.
