A historic $31.5 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec has been approved by a Quebec Superior Court judge. This settlement marks the conclusion of legal proceedings for individuals who reported being sexually abused by members of the Archdiocese dating back to 1940.
The agreement, sanctioned by Quebec Superior Court Justice Danye Daigle, received the green light earlier this week. Leading the charge were representative plaintiffs Gaétan Bégin and Pierre Bolduc, both of whom shared accounts of being sexually assaulted by parish priests in the 1950s and 1960s when they were teenagers.
During a public hearing in July, Daigle listened to emotional testimonies from victims to assess the out-of-court settlement and requested fees for the best interests of the class members. Following the hearing, Bégin, now 86, expressed that the day was historic for him, reflecting on the lasting impact of the trauma he endured and the unintended suffering he caused his family.
Approximately 200 individuals have already joined the class action, with the Dufresne Wee law firm announcing that other victims have a 90-day window to submit claims detailing the alleged abuse and its repercussions on their lives. Attorney Justin Wee highlighted that the $31.5 million settlement stands as one of the largest against a diocese in Quebec.
Financed by the Archdiocese of Quebec, the Séminaire de Québec, Collège François-de-Laval, and the Mutual Insurance of Quebec Fabriques, the compensation fund will cover not only the settlement amount but also the administrative costs associated with processing claims. Additionally, defendants have committed to covering expenses such as adjudicators’ fees, medical record retrieval, and expert opinions as necessary.
The allocation of compensation to each claimant will be determined by two retired judges assigned to evaluate the claims, with victims also set to receive a written apology from the Archdiocese of Quebec. Diocesan officials shared an online statement expressing their hope that this reparative phase will support victims in their journey towards peace and healing.
