The Vatican’s decision to rule out a new investigation for a lack of “sufficient elements” against Cardinal Marc Ouellet will not affect the class action lawsuit authorized against the Diocese of Quebec, says attorney Me Alain Arsenal.
• Also read: Pope rules out investigations into Cardinal Ouellet
• Also read: Allegations of a sexual nature against Cardinal Marc Ouellet have international repercussions
“We will proceed as if nothing happened,” the attorney said, stressing that canon law is one thing and civil law in Quebec is another.
Me Arsenault is representing plaintiff F. in a class action lawsuit against Cardinal Ouellet.
“It’s something special,” he said, referring to the work of Father Jacques Servais, who was commissioned by the Pope to investigate Cardinal Marc Ouellet.
“There was a meeting and Madame has not received an answer for a year and a half. The Pope had an answer, but why didn’t we inform Madame? If any elements were missing, we could have asked Madame,” added Me Arsenault.
In the event that there is no agreement between the parties and the case goes to court, the lawyer says the cardinal will have the opportunity to be questioned before a judge on the sexual assault allegations made earlier this week by the im Letters to plaintiffs named F were disclosed as part of the class action lawsuit.
“They wanted [le Diocèse] negotiate an agreement. They don’t want to deal with that anymore. It’s pretty much perfect. It will be Cardinal Ouellet [à la barre] witnesses some day, and I shall be very pleased to cross-examine him.”
- Don’t miss the show of Marc-André Leclerc replacing Patrick Derrydaily from 3 p.m., live or via podcast, at QUB radio :
“It changes absolutely nothing. We’re moving on,” Me Arsenault continued.
The latter considers that this news from Rome does not deprive him of ammunition. “On the contrary, it gives me something.”
“Because there are other elements that will emerge during the events. That will be interesting. The diocese will try to contradict these elements. You want to go to court, I’m glad, we’ll go there.