The Vatican says there is insufficient evidence to open a church investigation into Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the former archbishop of Quebec, despite a recent class action accusing him and about 88 clergy of sexual abuse and misconduct.
A spokesman for Pope Francis, Matteo Bruni, made the announcement in a statement Thursday morning.
Ouellet, who works at the Vatican and is seen as a potential successor to the Pope, is accused by a woman identified as “F” in the lawsuit of unwanted touching and kissing, as well as sexual harassment.
In its statement, the Vatican said theologian Jacques Servais, who was tasked with conducting a preliminary investigation into the allegations, found no evidence to justify further disciplinary action.
“There is no reason to open an investigation [allegations] of sexual assault on the person F. for [Ouellet]”, Servais said in the statement. “Not in his written report to the Holy Father, nor in [her] witness on Zoom.”
F is one of more than 100 alleged victims represented by the class action. The plaintiffs say they were sexually assaulted, most of them as minors, by priests and other staff members who worked for the archdiocese since 1940.
Most of the assaults allegedly took place in the 1950s and 1960s, according to court documents.
The Archdiocese of Quebec declined to comment on the case as it is before the courts, but its spokesman René Tessier said the Vatican is not opposed to reopening an investigation if new evidence is presented.