The Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouelletwhich occupies one of the most important functions of the Vatican government and which is accused of sexual assaultresigned Monday, January 30 for reasons of age, announced the Vatican.
Pope Francis acceptedthe renunciation, because of the age limit, of his eminence, Cardinal Marc Ouellet“Said a statement from the Vatican. His successor, the American Robert Francis Prevost, will take office on April 12.
Charges in August 2022
In August 2022, the 78-year-old cardinal, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, was accused of inappropriate touching of an intern between 2008 and 2010 when he was archbishop of Quebec, according to a document resulting from the collective action authorized by the Superior Court of the French-speaking province.
Read alsoWhy Sexual Abuse in the Church Hasn’t Affected Congregants’ Donations
Bishop Ouellet hadfirmly denied“these accusations”defamatory“, saying he is ready to participate in a trial to prove”his innocence“. Pope Francis then considered that there was “not enough elements to open a canonical investigation (religious, editor’s note)” in this file. And in December, Bishop Ouellet had indicated that he was filing a complaint for defamation against the woman accusing him of sexual assault.
The diocese of Quebec also confirmed this Monday to AFP the existence of a second complaint against the cardinal filed by a woman in 2020, a complaint revealed two weeks ago by the weekly Golias. Marc Ouellet was cited among the favorites of the last conclave at the end of which the Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope in 2013.
SEE ALSO – Funeral at the Vatican of Australian Cardinal George Pell
