Papacy candidate among clergy named in lawsuit

A Montreal law firm representing over 100 alleged victims said Cardinal Marc Ouellet was among the priests accused in a class-action lawsuit against the archdiocese of Quebec. A woman going by “F.” alleged in lawsuit documents that Ouellet inappropriately touched her while she was working as an intern in the diocese between 2008 and 2010. The cardinal denied the incidents took place and said the accusations constituted defamation.

Who is Marc Ouellet? He was the archbishop of Quebec from 2003 to 2010. Now, he helps the Pope appoint bishops. Ouellet was a papal candidate in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He later encouraged cardinals to vote for Jorge Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis. Ouellet is one of about 80 cardinals eligible for the papacy after Pope Francis. The Vatican launched its own investigation into the case over a year ago and on Friday declared there wasn’t enough evidence to proceed with the inquiry.

Dig Deeper: Read Mary Jackson’s report in Relations about a New Jersey diocese’s settlement plan after abuse allegations.