CANADA
Yahoo! News
The Canadian Press
MONTREAL – Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, who oversaw the funerals of NHL great Maurice (Rocket) Richard and former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau during his 22 years as archbishop of Montreal, died early Wednesday after a lengthy illness. He was 78.
The Montreal native was hospitalized in the summer of 2014 and was admitted to a palliative care unit last March 24.
A statement from the archdiocese of Montreal said Turcotte died at Marie-Clarac Hospital in the city.
In July 2014, Turcotte spoke out about pedophile scandals in the church and the estimate by Pope Francis that only two per cent of priests were pedophiles.
“We’re talking about two per cent … it’s not a lot, but even if one priest is a pedophile, that’s one too many,” Turcotte told The Canadian Press.
He also said victims of sexual assaults that occurred within the walls of Catholic establishments should be compensated.
“If there are people who behaved badly, they (must) pay for their behaviour,” Turcotte declared. “It’s normal that we pay for the wrongs that were committed.”
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