Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet attends a Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, on March 12, 2013. A woman alleging sexual assault by a prominent Quebec cardinal has revealed her identity and says the protocol for denouncing sexual assault at the archdiocese of Quebec must be changed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini
MONTREAL – A woman alleging sexual misconduct by a prominent Quebec cardinal has revealed her identity and says the process for reporting such abuse must be changed.
Until today, Paméla Groleau had been identified only as “F” in court documents as part of a class-action lawsuit filed in August against the Quebec City archdiocese.
In a written statement, she says that over the past two years, the Roman Catholic Church has been trying to silence her through “threats and intimidation.”
In the lawsuit, Groleau accused Cardinal Marc Ouellet of several incidents of sexual assault between 2008 and 2010, including sliding his hand down her back and touching her buttocks at an event in Quebec City.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and Ouellet last month countersued Groleau for defamation, denying the allegations and seeking $100,000 in damages.
Groleau says she initially kept her identity secret to protect her family, her job and her mental health and adds that she is fighting for all victims of the clergy.
In an emailed statement, the Quebec archdiocese says it has confidence in the independent and confidential process set up to deal with allegations of sexual misconduct.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2023.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
