Retired Canadian judge, André Denis, conducted a preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Archbishop Gérald Lacroix of Quebec. The claims surfaced in January as part of a class-action lawsuit, but the purported victim refused to cooperate with Denis’ investigation. Despite this, Lacroix strongly denied the allegations, stating with conviction that he never carried out the actions he was accused of. Denis, however, noted that the investigation was incomplete due to the alleged victim’s refusal to participate.
The Vatican announced that based on Denis’ report, there were no plans for a canonical trial against Lacroix. Pope Francis had appointed Lacroix as a cardinal in 2014 and made him a member of his Council of Cardinals. Lacroix had voluntarily removed himself from day-to-day work at the archdiocese in January following the allegations. The allegations against him dated back to 1987 and 1988 and were made by a woman who was 17 at the time. Lacroix’s predecessor, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, was also accused of misconduct in the same class-action lawsuit, which he denied.
Denis expressed his inability to determine whether the alleged act took place, as he lacked crucial information due to the purported victim’s refusal to cooperate. He emphasized that he was unable to identify specific details such as the time, place, or circumstances surrounding the alleged misconduct. Despite the incomplete investigation, Denis stated that if the alleged victim decides to collaborate in the future, he would seek an extension of his mandate from the Vatican. It is not uncommon for victims to decline participation in church investigations, especially while civil claims are ongoing.
The archdiocese of Quebec welcomed the progress in the canonical investigation but announced that Lacroix would remain on the sidelines of day-to-day operations until the civil litigation is resolved. The statement acknowledged the delays caused by the inclusion of new defendants in the lawsuit and expressed a willingness to negotiate an out-of-court settlement. Auxiliary Bishop Marc Pelchat has temporarily taken over the daily management of the archdiocese and emphasized the Church’s commitment to seeking justice and reparation for survivors of sexual abuse. The statement also expressed sensitivity to the suffering of those seeking justice in such cases.
