Class-Action Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Assault by Quebec Cardinal Gérald Lacroix

A senior leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec is facing allegations of sexual assault, as part of a class-action lawsuit against the archdiocese in the provincial capital.

Cardinal Gérald Lacroix’s name is among 15 added to a list of alleged perpetrators, filed as part of the suit brought by the law firm Arsenault Dufresne Wee.

The class action was authorized by the Quebec Superior Court in 2022, and covers anyone who was sexually assaulted by clergy or lay personnel, who were under the responsibility of the Catholic archdiocese of Quebec City dating back to 1940.

The allegations against 66-year-old Lacroix, the current archbishop of Quebec City, date back to 1987 and 1988 and involve an alleged victim who was 17 at the time.

The allegations have not been tested in court, and the archdiocese was not immediately available to comment.

The law firm says the amended list, filed in court on Jan. 25, has yet to be approved by court.

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