Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec expressed his relief and gratitude on Tuesday following a legal victory in a civil defamation case against a woman who had accused him of sexual misconduct as part of a class-action lawsuit.
In a statement released from his residence in Rome, Italy, Ouellet thanked the civil justice system, his legal team, and the witnesses who supported him during the case. The Superior Court Justice ruled in his favor, declaring the accusations made by Pamela Groleau as baseless and ordering her to pay $100,000 in damages.
Groleau had alleged that Ouellet had touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions between 2008 and 2010 while she was involved in church activities. However, the judge found her testimony to be lacking credibility and noted inconsistencies in her version of events, particularly highlighting that the alleged incidents occurred during public gatherings with other witnesses present.
Ouellet reiterated his commitment to donate the damages to organizations combating sexual abuse against Indigenous Peoples in Canada. He emphasized his dedication to fighting all forms of abuse, particularly sexual misconduct, within the Church and society, pledging his support for validated victims seeking restorative justice.
Keyphrase: Cardinal Marc Ouellet lawsuit
