The Archbishop of Quebec is targeted by allegations of sexual acts. (Archive photo)
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Targeted by allegations of gestures of a sexual nature, Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix announced on Friday that he was temporarily retiring from his functions as Archbishop of Quebec until “the situation is clarified.”
In a press release published at the end of the day, the Catholic Church of Quebec indicated that Mgr Lacroix had just informed his main collaborators.
The organization mentions that the Archbishop of Quebec and primate of the Canadian Church categorically denies the allegations against him since yesterday, which he considers unfounded.
In the coming days, he will send a personal communication to the diocesans of Quebec which will be relayed to the media, specifies the diocesan team, which says it understands this decision which she welcomes with sadness.
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The name of Cardinal Lacroix, 66, recently appeared in court documents where he is the target of allegations of sexual acts as part of the class action brought against his diocese.
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Cardinal Lacroix's ties to Pope Francis influenced his decision to temporarily withdraw, according to journalist Alain Crevier. (Archive photo)
The actions with which he is accused allegedly occurred between 1987 and 1988 in Quebec. The alleged victim was 17 years old at the time of the incident. Gérald Cyprien Lacroix allegedly indulged in sexual touching against him.
The journalist specializing in religious affairs and host from the podcast Être…, Alain Crevier, believes that the cardinal made the necessary decision.
I think it was the right thing to do. Try to imagine the cardinal who officiates, who meets people, who gives speeches, who celebrates mass and that which is in the decor, it becomes impossible, confides Mr. Crevier in an interview with Radio-Canada.
He also comes to wonder if Gérald Cyprien Lacroix had any other choice, especially given his title, his occupations and his proximity to the pope.
It's not possible, when you work so close to the pope, to have that in your landscape. If it doesn't bother you, you risk harming the image of the Pope, analyzes Alain Crevier.
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The journalist Alain Crevier hosts the podcast Being…, which follows the quest of inspiring people who have overcome adversity. (Archive photo)
The journalist does not believe that it was at the request of the Pope that Cardinal Lacroix has decided to withdraw temporarily. The sovereign pontiff, he points out, has not exerted such pressure, until now, on the cardinals who found themselves in troubled waters.
Gérald Cyprien Lacroix became archbishop of Quebec in February 2011. Pope Francis named him cardinal three years later, in 2014.
Teilor Stone has been a reporter on the news desk since 2013. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining Thesaxon , Teilor Stone worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my teilor@nizhtimes.com 1-800-268-7116
