The Quebec government has made the decision to revoke the National Order of Quebec from French priest Abbé Pierre due to allegations of sexual abuse. Premier François Legault acted on the council’s unanimous recommendation, which oversees the prestigious honor in the province. The allegations against Henri Grouès, or Abbé Pierre, were first brought to light in a report from July 2024.
A total of 45 individuals have come forward as alleged victims, claiming instances of sexual violence, with some of them being minors at the time of the incidents. Abbé Pierre, known for his dedication to assisting the underprivileged and homeless, was granted the title of grand officer of the Ordre national du Québec in 1995 by former Premier Jacques Parizeau before his passing in 2007.
In a similar move, the Quebec government had previously removed French actor Gérard Depardieu from the National Order of Quebec in December 2023, following the airing of a documentary where he made inappropriate comments about women.
