MONTREAL (CANADA)
National Catholic Reporter [Kansas City MO]
June 4, 2024
By FRANÇOIS GLOUTNAY
André Denis, a retired Quebec superior court judge mandated by Pope Francis to investigate accusations of sexual abuse made against Cardinal Gérald C. Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, has said he found no evidence to support the accusations. But Denis noted the investigation’s conclusion was significantly impacted by the accuser’s refusal to participate — something which could change in the future — leaving the cardinal in the meantime feeling like he was “fighting a ghost.”
“The elements collected during my investigation make it implausible that the facts alleged against the cardinal occurred,” Denis wrote in his 66-page report submitted to Francis May 6. “I do not find sufficient elements to justify the holding of a canonical trial against Cardinal Lacroix and this is the conclusion that I formulated to Pope Francis.”
Denis on May 21 made public a 10-page summary of this report and held a press conference the same day to answer questions.
On Jan. 25, the cardinal, who is also the primate of the Catholic Church in Canada, was mentioned in a document from anonymous victims filed as part of a class action against the Archdiocese of Quebec. The archdiocese is being sued on behalf of people who allege they were sexually assaulted by members of the clergy, their staff and their volunteers from Jan. 1, 1940, to the present.
“The diocese recognizes that this action is well-founded for a certain number of plaintiffs and wishes to reach a settlement out of court as soon as possible. It is a wish that everyone shares,” the judge wrote.
The attack with which the archbishop is accused allegedly occurred in 1987-1988 in Quebec.
The person making the allegation claims she was a minor at the time. In 1987, Cardinal Lacroix was not yet a priest. It was then-Bishop Maurice Couture (later the archbishop of Quebec) who ordained him on Oct. 8, 1988.
Because of the accusation, the cardinal said he was “temporarily withdrawing from his activities until the situation is clarified,” though he denied the allegations.
On Feb. 8, Francis asked Denis to investigate “on the facts, circumstances and imputability of the alleged offense” targeting Cardinal Lacroix.
Denis said his investigation was impaired by the fact that he was not able to interview the person who made the accusations.
“Her statement is anonymous and she refuses to collaborate in my investigation,” Denis wrote in his report.
“She has the right to do so and she must be treated with respect, empathy and welcome as one should do with any human person,” he added.
But Denis made clear this refusal “greatly affected” the investigation into the cardinal.
“If I cannot affirm that his denunciation is unfounded, I certainly cannot endorse it on the basis of the facts revealed by my investigation,” Denis wrote in the conclusion of his report.
“I am unable to say whether the alleged act took place or not. I am unable to even identify a place, an event, a specific date or any circumstance. The applicant’s refusal to collaborate in the slightest degree with my investigation leaves me helpless,” he related to the pope.
ndré Denis, a retired Quebec superior court judge mandated by Pope Francis to investigate accusations of sexual abuse made against Cardinal Gérald C. Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, has said he found no evidence to support the accusations. But Denis noted the investigation’s conclusion was significantly impacted by the accuser’s refusal to participate — something which could change in the future — leaving the cardinal in the meantime feeling like he was “fighting a ghost.”
“The elements collected during my investigation make it implausible that the facts alleged against the cardinal occurred,” Denis wrote in his 66-page report submitted to Francis May 6. “I do not find sufficient elements to justify the holding of a canonical trial against Cardinal Lacroix and this is the conclusion that I formulated to Pope Francis.”
Denis on May 21 made public a 10-page summary of this report and held a press conference the same day to answer questions.
On Jan. 25, the cardinal, who is also the primate of the Catholic Church in Canada, was mentioned in a document from anonymous victims filed as part of a class action against the Archdiocese of Quebec. The archdiocese is being sued on behalf of people who allege they were sexually assaulted by members of the clergy, their staff and their volunteers from Jan. 1, 1940, to the present.
“The diocese recognizes that this action is well-founded for a certain number of plaintiffs and wishes to reach a settlement out of court as soon as possible. It is a wish that everyone shares,” the judge wrote.
The attack with which the archbishop is accused allegedly occurred in 1987-1988 in Quebec.
The person making the allegation claims she was a minor at the time. In 1987, Cardinal Lacroix was not yet a priest. It was then-Bishop Maurice Couture (later the archbishop of Quebec) who ordained him on Oct. 8, 1988.
Because of the accusation, the cardinal said he was “temporarily withdrawing from his activities until the situation is clarified,” though he denied the allegations.
On Feb. 8, Francis asked Denis to investigate “on the facts, circumstances and imputability of the alleged offense” targeting Cardinal Lacroix.
Denis said his investigation was impaired by the fact that he was not able to interview the person who made the accusations.
“Her statement is anonymous and she refuses to collaborate in my investigation,” Denis wrote in his report.
“She has the right to do so and she must be treated with respect, empathy and welcome as one should do with any human person,” he added.
But Denis made clear this refusal “greatly affected” the investigation into the cardinal.
“If I cannot affirm that his denunciation is unfounded, I certainly cannot endorse it on the basis of the facts revealed by my investigation,” Denis wrote in the conclusion of his report.
“I am unable to say whether the alleged act took place or not. I am unable to even identify a place, an event, a specific date or any circumstance. The applicant’s refusal to collaborate in the slightest degree with my investigation leaves me helpless,” he related to the pope.