#BreakingNews Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec Announces he is "withdrawing from his activities" after being Named in an Abuse Lawsuit
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A high-ranking cardinal from Canada, Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec City has been named in court documents on January 26th in relation to a class-action lawsuit authorized against the Archdiocese of Quebec from 2022. In a new press release the archdiocese announced that the cardinal will be taking a break from his activities until the situation is "clarified."
Press release – Diocesan reaction – collective action
By Communications Department
-January 26, 2024
Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix has just announced to his main collaborators that he is temporarily withdrawing from his activities until the situation is clarified. He categorically denies the allegations against him since yesterday, which he considers unfounded. In the coming days, he will send a personal communication to the diocesans of Quebec which will be relayed to the media.
The diocesan team understands this decision which it welcomes with sadness: everything will be done by its collaborators in order to take over the tasks linked to the diocesan mission.
The diocesan authorities will continue to move forward in the process of collective action, with respect for the truth and with the aim of offering reparation to survivors of sexual abuse.
The Catholic Register wrote:
The alleged incidents are said to have occurred in 1987 and 1988 in Quebec City. Lacroix was ordained to the priesthood in 1988. The alleged victim is a 17-year-old girl, court documents say. The woman has not been identified.
The allegations come a year-and-a-half after Lacroix’s predecessor, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, was named in the lawsuit for allegedly assaulting a woman between 2008 and 2010. Ouellet has denied the accusations levelled by Paméla Groleau and has launched a lawsuit of his own against Groleau, accusing her of defaming him.
In total, 147 alleged victims have joined the lawsuit against the Quebec Archdiocese. Fifteen other people associated with the Archdiocese have been named in the court documents.
The lawsuit has also named the Séminaire de Quebec.
Neither cardinal has been criminally charged.
By Communications Department
-January 26, 2024
Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix has just announced to his main collaborators that he is temporarily withdrawing from his activities until the situation is clarified. He categorically denies the allegations against him since yesterday, which he considers unfounded. In the coming days, he will send a personal communication to the diocesans of Quebec which will be relayed to the media.
The diocesan team understands this decision which it welcomes with sadness: everything will be done by its collaborators in order to take over the tasks linked to the diocesan mission.
The diocesan authorities will continue to move forward in the process of collective action, with respect for the truth and with the aim of offering reparation to survivors of sexual abuse.
The Catholic Register wrote:
The alleged incidents are said to have occurred in 1987 and 1988 in Quebec City. Lacroix was ordained to the priesthood in 1988. The alleged victim is a 17-year-old girl, court documents say. The woman has not been identified.
The allegations come a year-and-a-half after Lacroix’s predecessor, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, was named in the lawsuit for allegedly assaulting a woman between 2008 and 2010. Ouellet has denied the accusations levelled by Paméla Groleau and has launched a lawsuit of his own against Groleau, accusing her of defaming him.
In total, 147 alleged victims have joined the lawsuit against the Quebec Archdiocese. Fifteen other people associated with the Archdiocese have been named in the court documents.
The lawsuit has also named the Séminaire de Quebec.
Neither cardinal has been criminally charged.
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