As Vatican says 'no grounds' to investigate Ouellet, questions raised over handling of complaint
CBC
The Vatican says there is insufficient evidence to open a church investigation into Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the former archbishop of Quebec, despite a recent class action accusing him and some 88 other clergy members of sexual abuse and misconduct.
A spokesperson for Pope Francis, Matteo Bruni, made the announcement in a statement Thursday morning.
Ouellet, who works at the Vatican and is seen as a potential successor to the Pope, is accused by a woman identified as "F" in the lawsuit of unwanted touching and kissing, as well as sexual harassment.
In its statement, the Vatican says theologian Jacques Servais, who was tasked with conducting a preliminary investigation into the allegations, found no evidence that warranted further disciplinary measures.
"There are no grounds to open an investigation into [allegations] of sexual assault on the person F. by [Ouellet]," Servais said in the statement. "Not in her written report to the Holy Father, nor in [her] testimony on Zoom."
But an investigation by Radio-Canada's program Enquête found Servais might have had a conflict of interest.
According to the Vatican's protocols on sexual assault, any allegations against a priest must be reported to the bishop of the diocese where the priest is currently working, explained theologian Jean-Guy Nadeau.
"Since Cardinal Ouellet is in Rome, the bishop for [him], it's the Pope," he said.
The 78-year-old cardinal is the head of the Vatican's department responsible for selecting new bishops, one of the most senior positions in the Catholic Church.
The alleged victim, who first met Ouellet in 2008 when he was still the archbishop of Quebec, filed a complaint to the Vatican in 2021.
After learning the Pope had mandated Servais to look into her allegations, F wanted to know more about Servais.
"My first reaction was to do a search to see who he was," the woman told Enquête.
"When I saw right away his relationship with Marc Ouellet, it worried me in terms of his independence and his neutrality," she said.
Servais and Ouellet are both members of Casa Balthasar, an international organization that offers spiritual training. They have also collaborated together on various publications and organizing events in Rome, the team at Enquête found.
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