The diocese of Quebec, Canada, announces that Pope Francis has appointed a retired judge, named André Denis, to investigate its accused Cardinal Gerald Lacroix. Bishop William T. McGrattan, Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said of the accusation, “On 25 January 2024, it was reported in the news that Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix’s name has recently been added to a list of clergy and pastoral workers who have been accused of sexual abuse in a class action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec.
He has issued a statement and he has communicated his decision to withdraw temporarily from activities in his Diocese.
Within the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has established a clear procedure that must be followed when an allegation is made against a Bishop, as outlined in Vos Estis Lux Mundi. According to the Catholic Register, 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.
Full Text March 4th, 2024 Statement:
Diocesan reaction to the investigation led by retired judge André Denis
The officials who ensure the governance of the Archdiocese of Quebec during the temporary withdrawal of the Archbishop were informed on February 8 that Pope Francis had mandated Mr. André Denis, retired judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, to conduct an investigation into the alleged offense, in accordance with the provisions of the Motu proprio Vos estis Lux mundi on the handling of allegations against a bishop, archbishop or cardinal.
André Denis is the only person in charge of the investigation and it was possible for him to make his mandate public if he deemed it appropriate. This morning we learned that this is what he had decided to do. We respect his choice.
The Diocese will offer its full collaboration to Mr. Denis upon his request, but will not intervene in the progress of the investigation or in its conclusions.
We will not make any further comments on this process which takes place without intervention on our part.
https://www.ecdq.org/communique-reaction-diocesaine-a-lenquete-conduite-par-le-juge-a-la-retraite-andre-denis/
The officials who ensure the governance of the Archdiocese of Quebec during the temporary withdrawal of the Archbishop were informed on February 8 that Pope Francis had mandated Mr. André Denis, retired judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, to conduct an investigation into the alleged offense, in accordance with the provisions of the Motu proprio Vos estis Lux mundi on the handling of allegations against a bishop, archbishop or cardinal.
André Denis is the only person in charge of the investigation and it was possible for him to make his mandate public if he deemed it appropriate. This morning we learned that this is what he had decided to do. We respect his choice.
The Diocese will offer its full collaboration to Mr. Denis upon his request, but will not intervene in the progress of the investigation or in its conclusions.
We will not make any further comments on this process which takes place without intervention on our part.
https://www.ecdq.org/communique-reaction-diocesaine-a-lenquete-conduite-par-le-juge-a-la-retraite-andre-denis/
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