In a statement he signed, Bishop Ouellet said he had wanted to respect the confidentiality of Vatican procedures when such allegations were made against members of the high clergy.
An article published Thursday in the Catholic journal Golias Hebdo in France revealed that the cardinal was the subject of a denunciation in autumn 2020, bringing the number of complainants to two. In both cases, a preliminary investigation has shown that the allegations against him are unfounded.
The new complainant is only known by the pseudonym Marie and the details of her allegations have not been disclosed.
“I confirm that I have voluntarily participated in an investigation into this complaint and have fully cooperated with it. I have nothing to hide and have been transparent in the process. »
— A quote from Marc Ouellet
Cardinal Ouellet said he was informed that the complaint had been dismissed, particularly because the complainant, after filing her complaint, decided not to meet with those responsible for the investigation.
He denies any wrongdoing towards the woman and adds that, to his knowledge, she did not request a reopening of the complaint.
He also recalls that he is not the subject of a lawsuit brought by the latter in the civil courts, since this second plaintiff is not registered in the class action lawsuit against the Diocese of Quebec.
Cardinal Ouellet is also not the subject of criminal charges.
He concludes his letter by reiterating how important it is for all victims of sexual abuse to report this type of disclosure and not be discouraged.