Quebec Cardinal Lacroix releases video denying sexual abuse allegations

In a video published Tuesday on YouTube, Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix once again denied he allegations of sexual assault against him which were made public last week.

The Cardinal and Archbishop of Quebec addressed the members of his diocese in a video published on the channel of the Catholic Church of Quebec. He claims to have never made “inappropriate gestures” towards minors or adults.

Lacroix’s name was found in legal documents filed on Jan. 26, as part of a class action brought against the archdiocese by alleged victims of sexual assault.

The allegations against him date back to 1987 and 1988. The alleged victim was 17 years old at the time of the first alleged assault.

His name is among 15 names added to a list of alleged attackers filed in the Superior Court of Quebec as part of the class-action led by the firm Arsenault Dufresne Wee.

He decided to withdraw from the activities of his diocese on Jan. 27, to allow for the continued negotiations between the alleged victims and the Archdiocese of Quebec, he admitted in the video lasting nearly six minutes.

Lacroix pledged to respect the ongoing legal process and said the diocese hoped for a fair settlement so that victims of abuse receive financial reparation.

Lacroix is one of the most influential Catholic figures in Canada. When he was named archbishop of Quebec in 2011, he automatically became “Primate of the Catholic Church of Canada.” Pope Francis designated him a cardinal in January 2014.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews