In that lawsuit, a woman identified as “F” alleges that she was touched against her will by Cardinal Marc Ouellet and forced to perform sexual acts with another priest, Father Leopold Manirabarusha.
“F” said she met Ouellet over dinner in 2008 while working as an intern for the Diocese of Quebec, according to the lawsuit. She stated in the legal filing that later that night “I feel two hands put on her shoulders and begin to massage her hard. F looks up to see that it is Cardinal Marc Ouellet who is behind ‘her and massages her shoulders. Ouellet smiles at her and caresses her back before leaving.”
In the lawsuit, “F” said the incident was intrusive and made her uncomfortable.
In another incident in 2008, “F'” contacted Ouellet again, according to the lawsuit. Another priest asked him if he knew “F,” according to the file, “to which he very loudly replied that they both know each other very well. Cardinal Marc Ouellet then casually kisses “F,” though only they had seen each other once. or twice before, and he holds her firmly against him while stroking her back with his hands,” according to the lawsuit.
“F” claimed that one of the last times she had contact with Ouellet was in February 2010. According to the lawsuit, Ouellet told her that he could kiss her again because “there’s no harm in- spoil you a little.”
“F” said he didn’t say anything because he was concerned that his internship and professional future depended on Ouellet, according to the lawsuit.
After attending sexual assault training, “F” began having flashbacks of what she said was her experience with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, according to the lawsuit. She realized that Ouellet’s interactions with her constituted a non-consensual sexual touch and therefore sexual assault, according to the lawsuit, and decided to tell her new partner and a few female friends.
One of those friends advised her to talk to the Quebec Catholic Church’s Advisory Committee on Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Persons about these sexual assaults, according to the lawsuit.
A statement issued by Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said that a preliminary investigation conducted by Fr. Jacques Servais, SI, at the request of the Pope, concluded “that there are no elements to initiate a trial against Cardinal Ouellet for sexual assault”.
“After further relevant consultations, Pope Francis declares that there are insufficient elements to open a canonical investigation for sexual assault of Cardinal Ouellet against person F,” Bruni said in the statement.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec acknowledged the allegations made in the lawsuit against Cardinal Ouellet, but said it had no comment.
Additionally, in the lawsuit, “F” described sexual assault by another priest in the Diocese of Quebec, Father Leopold Manirabarusha.
“F” alleged that she was forced to perform sexual acts for Manirabarusha while employed by the diocese, according to the filing. She alleged in the lawsuit that Manirabarusha took her to his library one day and made it clear that he expected her to give him oral sex. “F” complied with their demands, seeing no other way out.
On about 15 separate occasions, according to the lawsuit, Manirabarusha sexually assaulted her at various locations, including church property and a hotel.
The Archdiocese of Quebec confirmed that Manirabarusha is still a Catholic priest and said, “but he has been out of service due to a suspension since early April. So, until the whole matter is resolved, he cannot have any pastoral intervention with the people”.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet has been one of the Vatican’s most prominent cardinals for more than a decade. His name was raised during the 2013 Conclave as a possible Pope, CNN reported at the time.
He has headed the Vatican’s powerful bishops’ office since 2010. The office is responsible for research and oversight of Catholic bishops worldwide and works closely with Pope Francis. Cardinal Ouellet typically meets weekly with the Pope to keep him informed of developments in his office, according to published bulletins of the Pope’s meetings.
In 2019, upon turning 75, Ouellet submitted his resignation to Pope Francis as required by Vatican law, but Francis did not accept it, as CNN has confirmed that Ouellet remains in office.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in an email to CNN, said it cannot confirm whether there is a criminal investigation and that investigations are usually confirmed if and when criminal charges are recommended against someone.
CNN has reached out to Quebec City’s director of criminal and criminal prosecutions about possible criminal investigations and was told by email that it has no public information about this case at this time.
SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which has been providing support to victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years, issued a statement saying: “We applaud the bravery of all the victims involved in this case for have come forward and we hope they can receive the justice and healing they deserve. We especially recognize that given the prominence of the man who has accused, the alleged victim of Cardinal Ouellet will undoubtedly receive intense public scrutiny, and we recognize that for It took considerable courage for her to come forward.”