Cardinal Gerald Lacroix, a leading figure in the Roman Catholic clergy of Canada, has temporarily stepped down after being named in a class-action lawsuit alleging sexual assault against the church. This comes after Lacroix’s name was added to a Quebec court filing listing alleged perpetrators on Thursday.
The Quebec diocese released a statement saying Lacroix, 66, had informed colleagues of his decision to temporarily withdraw from his activities to allow for clarification of the situation. The statement also emphasized Lacroix’s strong denial of the allegations against him.
The class-action lawsuit, approved by the court in 2022, represents over 100 individuals who claim to have been sexually assaulted by 88 priests and staff within the Quebec diocese since 1940. The suit also mentions Marc Ouellet, a former Vatican cardinal from Canada who resigned from his position last year. In December, Ouellet, 79, announced that he was suing a woman who accused him of sexual assault over a decade ago during his time as the archbishop of Quebec.
The lawsuit includes the names of priests who served in the diocese and at educational institutions, such as the Quebec seminary. Most of those named are no longer alive.
The Quebec diocese also confirmed Lacroix’s temporary withdrawal from his duties. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Alistair Bell)
