byOSV News
Canadian Cardinal Gérald C. Lacroix of Québec speaks during a briefing about the assembly of the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican Oct. 11, 2023. Cardinal Lacroix has been named in court documents on Jan. 25, 2024, in connection with a class-action lawsuit authorized against the archdiocese in 2022. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
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QUÉBEC CITY (OSV News) -- Cardinal Gérald C. Lacroix of Québec was named in court documents Jan. 25 in connection with a class-action sex assault lawsuit filed against the Archdiocese of Québec in 2022.
According to court documents, two incidents allegedly involving him reportedly occurred in 1987 and 1988 in Québec City, when he was a religious brother. He is accused of inappropriately touching a 17-year-old girl on two occasions. The woman has not been identified.
From 1982 to 1987, then-Brother Lacroix served as the secretary-general of the Pius X Secular Institute in Québec City. From 1985 to 1987, he also was the director of the Maison du Renouveau du Québec, or House of Renewal, described on its website as a gathering place for prayer open to people of all walks of life. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1988.
OSV News has reached out to the Archdiocese of Québec for comment, but the archdiocese did not immediately respond.
The allegations come a year-and-a-half after Cardinal Lacroix's predecessor, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, was named in the lawsuit for allegedly assaulting a woman between 2008 and 2010.
Cardinal Ouellet has denied the accusations leveled by Paméla Groleau and has launched a lawsuit of his own against Groleau, accusing her of defaming him.
Neither cardinal has been criminally charged.
In total, 147 alleged victims have joined the civil suit against the Archdiocese of Québec which covers claims of abuse dating back to 1940. Fifteen other people associated with the archdiocese have been named in the court documents. The lawsuit also names the Seminary of Québec.
The law firm representing alleged victims said they have testified against more than 100 priests or employees.Cardinal Lacroix has been the archbishop of Québec since 2011 and holds an honorary role as primate of the Catholic Church in Canada. Created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2014, he is an adviser to the pope as a member of the Council of Cardinals. Established by Pope Francis in September 2013, the Council of Cardinals was created to assist him in the governance of the universal church. One of its projects is to revise the Roman Curia.
Cardinal Lacroix has been the North American representative on the council since 2023. He also is a member of the Vatican Council for the Economy.
- - - Contributing to this report were Catholic Register in Toronto and KNA International, an English-language news service covering the Catholic Church in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.