A Quebec Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of Cardinal Marc Ouellet in a defamation lawsuit filed against Paméla Groleau, ordering her to pay $100,000 in damages. Ouellet initiated the legal action, claiming that Groleau tarnished his reputation by including him in a 2022 class-action lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct within the Archdiocese of Quebec.
Groleau alleged interactions with the cardinal between 2008 and 2010 during her time as a lay pastoral agent for the Catholic Church, accusing Ouellet of inappropriate behavior, including unwanted physical contact. Initially reporting the incidents anonymously in 2008 to a church committee and later to Pope Francis in 2021, her claims were dismissed in 2022, leading her to join the class action.
Justice Martin Castonguay dismissed Groleau’s allegations as lacking credibility. He criticized Groleau for altering her story to attract public attention after her complaint to Pope Francis was not upheld. Castonguay emphasized that the evidence conclusively showed the accusations as baseless, noting that Groleau even admitted to modifying details to exaggerate the severity of the alleged interactions.
Castonguay highlighted Groleau’s disregard for Ouellet’s reputation and rights, stating that her actions were reckless and malicious. The judge outlined the requirements for a defamation claim, including false accusations, irrelevant claims, malicious intent, and accusations lacking reasonable cause.
Lawyers for Groleau refrained from commenting on the ruling or indicating a potential appeal. In contrast, Dominique Ménard, representing Ouellet, expressed satisfaction with the court’s acknowledgment of the injustice faced by the cardinal. Ménard stressed the importance of serious allegations being based on accurate and rigorous facts, especially in legal proceedings.
In a separate statement, Ouellet expressed gratitude to his legal team and witnesses for assisting in establishing the truth during the trial. He reaffirmed his commitment to combating abuse within the Church and society, pledging to donate any awarded sum to organizations combatting sexual abuse against Indigenous communities in Canada.
