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Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet wins defamation suit against Paméla Groleau
A Quebec Superior Court judge ruled that Paméla Groleau's accusations of sexual misconduct against Cardinal Marc Ouellet were unfounded, ordering her to pay $100,000 in damages. Ouellet plans to donate the sum to organizations fighting sexual abuse against Indigenous people in Canada.
By Tertius News AI Desk2 distinct · 2 mastheads · 2 articlesVersion 1Coverage Published
Court Ruling
Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet has won his civil defamation suit against Paméla Groleau, who accused him of sexual misconduct. Superior Court Justice Martin Castonguay ruled on Monday that Groleau's accusations against the cardinal were unfounded and ordered her to pay him $100,000.
Groleau had accused Ouellet of touching her without consent on three occasions between 2008 and 2010, while she was training or working as a lay pastoral agent for the church. In his 52-page ruling, handed down at the Montreal courthouse, Castonguay concluded that Groleau's testimony "was neither credible nor reliable." The judge noted that she changed her story several times, including eventually saying that she only considered one of the alleged interactions to be a sexual assault, and that the alleged incidents took place during public events attended by other people.
The judge also noted that the damage to Ouellet was compounded by the fact that Groleau named him in a class-action lawsuit against the Quebec archdiocese that overwhelmingly involves clergy or lay people accused of being pedophiles. In his judgment, Castonguay said the damage to Ouellet "is amplified by the chosen vehicle, meaning that of a class action aimed principally at religious pedophiles, thereby equating Cardinal Ouellet, in the eyes of the ordinary citizen, with that group of individuals."
Ouellet's Response
Following the ruling, Ouellet issued a written statement from his residence in Rome, Italy. In it, he expressed gratitude to the civil justice system, his lawyers, and the witnesses who testified. He reiterated his plan to donate the $100,000 in damages to organizations fighting sexual abuse against Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
"I pledge to continue the fight within the Church and in society against every form of abuse, particularly sexual abuse, and I unreservedly support substantiated victims in their pursuit of restorative justice," he wrote.
Background and Context
The allegations against Ouellet first surfaced in 2022 as part of a wider class-action lawsuit against the archdiocese of Quebec and dozens of its clergy or lay members. In response to being named in the class action, Ouellet launched a $100,000 defamation countersuit against Groleau, alleging that she damaged his reputation, honour and dignity.
Earlier this month, the Quebec Superior Court approved a $31.5-million out-of-court settlement for the class action.
The trial also heard from two other women who testified to having interactions with Ouellet that they felt were inappropriate. Castonguay ruled that their testimony was not pertinent to the question of whether Groleau had defamed Ouellet. He concluded that Ouellet was "not the author of the gestures" described by one of the two women. That woman had testified that Ouellet had come up behind her and allegedly rubbed his pelvis against her behind as she prepared items for a mass in Montreal in 1992, but the evidence showed that Ouellet was not the person officiating masses at the time.
Ouellet, who headed the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, the Vatican office that oversees the selection of new bishops, from 2010 until his retirement in 2023, was touted as a front-runner to replace former pope Benedict XVI in 2013, a role that went to former pope Francis.
How each outlet told it
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Framing: The headline emphasizes the legal victory for Cardinal Ouellet, using the simple declarative "wins lawsuit."
Facts Included:
Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet has won his civil defamation suit against a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct.
Superior Court Justice Martin Castonguay ruled that Paméla Groleau’s accusations against the cardinal are unfounded and ordered her to pay him $100,000.
Groleau had accused Ouellet of touching her without consent on three occasions between 2008 and 2010, while she was training or working as a lay pastoral agent for the church.
Castonguay noted in his judgment that Groleau changed her story several times, including eventually saying that she only considered one of the alleged interactions to be a sexual assault.
The judge noted that the damage to Ouellet was compounded by the fact that Groleau named him in a class-action lawsuit against the Quebec archdiocese that overwhelmingly involves clergy or lay people accused of being pedophiles.
Ouellet has promised to donate the damages he’s awarded to organizations fighting against sexual abuse experienced by Indigenous people in Canada.
Framing: Highlights Ouellet's donation of $100K from the defamation suit win.
Facts Included:
Marc Ouellet won a civil defamation suit against Paméla Groleau, who accused him of sexual misconduct.
Superior Court Justice Martin Castonguay ruled on Monday that Groleau's accusations were unfounded.
The court ordered Groleau to pay Ouellet $100,000.
Ouellet issued a written statement from his residence in Rome, Italy.
In his statement, Ouellet expressed gratitude to the civil justice system, his lawyers, and the witnesses.
Groleau accused Ouellet of touching her without consent on three occasions between 2008 and 2010.
Ouellet reiterated his plan to donate the $100,000 to organizations fighting sexual abuse against Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Ouellet said: 'I pledge to continue the fight within the Church and in society against every form of abuse, particularly sexual abuse, and I unreservedly support substantiated victims in their pursuit of restorative justice.'
The ruling was 52 pages and handed down at the Montreal courthouse.
The judge found Groleau's testimony 'was neither credible nor reliable.'
The judge noted that Groleau changed her account several times and that alleged incidents took place during public events.
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimQuebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet won his civil defamation suit against Paméla Groleau, who accused him of sexual misconduct.
ClaimPaméla Groleau accused Cardinal Marc Ouellet of touching her without consent on three occasions between 2008 and 2010, while she was training or working as a lay pastoral agent for the church.
ClaimIn his judgment, Justice Martin Castonguay noted that Paméla Groleau changed her story several times, including eventually saying that she only considered one of the alleged interactions to be a sexual assault.
ClaimThe judge noted that the damage to Cardinal Marc Ouellet was compounded by the fact that Paméla Groleau named him in a class-action lawsuit against the Quebec archdiocese that overwhelmingly involves clergy or lay people accused of being pedophiles.
ClaimCardinal Marc Ouellet has promised to donate the damages he's awarded to organizations fighting against sexual abuse experienced by Indigenous people in Canada.
ClaimCardinal Marc Ouellet said: 'I pledge to continue the fight within the Church and in society against every form of abuse, particularly sexual abuse, and I unreservedly support substantiated victims in their pursuit of restorative justice.'
ClaimThe judge said the damage to Cardinal Marc Ouellet 'is amplified by the chosen vehicle, meaning that of a class action aimed principally at religious pedophiles, thereby equating Cardinal Ouellet, in the eyes of the ordinary citizen, with that group of individuals.'
ClaimThe final alleged incident involving Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Paméla Groleau came in 2010, at an event celebrating a priest's ordination, when Groleau said Ouellet slid his hand down her back to the top of her buttocks and left them there for 'several seconds.'
ClaimThe allegations against Cardinal Marc Ouellet first surfaced in 2022 as part of a wider class-action lawsuit against the archdiocese of Quebec and dozens of its clergy or lay members.
ClaimIn response to being named in the class action, Cardinal Marc Ouellet launched a $100,000 defamation countersuit against Paméla Groleau, alleging that she damaged his reputation, honour and dignity.
ClaimCardinal Marc Ouellet headed the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, the Vatican office that oversees the selection of new bishops, from 2010 until his retirement in 2023.
ClaimJustice Martin Castonguay ruled that the testimony of the two other women was not pertinent to the question of whether Paméla Groleau had defamed Cardinal Marc Ouellet.
ClaimThe woman had testified that Cardinal Marc Ouellet had come up behind her and allegedly rubbed his pelvis against her behind as she prepared items for a mass in Montreal in 1992, but Castonguay said the evidence showed that the cardinal was not the person officiating masses at the time.
ClaimJustice Martin Castonguay said the true impact of the allegations on Cardinal Marc Ouellet 'is difficult to quantify,' and awarded him the $100,000 he'd been seeking.
ClaimLawyer Dominique Ménard said in a statement: 'This judgment reaffirms a fundamental principle: even in the context of judicial proceedings, serious allegations must be based on accurate and relevant facts and advanced with the rigour required by their gravity.'