Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, accused in his country of sexual assault by a complainant, designated only under the letter F, “
firmly denied
” these accusations on Friday August 19, judging them “
defamatory
”.
"
Having learned of the false accusations made against me by the complainant (F.), I firmly deny having made inappropriate gestures on her person
," said Marc Ouellet in a statement published on the Vatican news site.
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“
I consider the interpretation and dissemination of these allegations as sexual assault to be defamatory.
If a civil investigation should be opened, I will actively participate in it so that the truth is established and my innocence is recognized
,” the cardinal concluded in this statement published in French and Italian.
Marc Ouellet, 78 years old and current prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, one of the most important functions of the Vatican government, allegedly inappropriately touched this intern between 2008 and 2010 when he was archbishop of Quebec. , according to charges appearing in a document made public on August 16 and resulting from the class action authorized by the Superior Court of this French-speaking province in May.
Concluded for lack of “sufficient elements”
Pope Francis had for his part from Thursday excluded for lack of "
sufficient elements
", the opening of a new investigation against the cardinal.
In 2021, the Pope would respond to a letter from F. by appointing “
Father Jacques Servais to investigate Cardinal Marc Ouellet
”.
And it is precisely on the basis of the elements gathered by Father Servais that the Pope decided to exclude an investigation against Bishop Ouellet, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained on Thursday.
The spokesman specifies that Father Servais, whose preliminary investigation concluded on the absence of sufficient elements, was again contacted by the pope, who received the assurance that there was no reason to continue the procedure.
Unusually, Matteo Bruni's statement, written in Italian, quotes statements in French from Father Servais, a Jesuit like the pope: "
There is no reason to open an investigation for the sexual assault of the person F. de the part of Cardinal Marc Ouellet
", he says.
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“
Neither in the report written (by F., Editor's note) and sent to the Holy Father, nor in the testimony via Zoom that I subsequently collected in the presence of a member of the ad hoc diocesan committee, does this person has brought an accusation which would provide material for such an investigation
,” said Father Servais.
