The Archdiocese of Quebec, two educational institutions, and an insurer have reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit in which collectively they will pay $31.5 million to some 150 individuals who claim they were sexually assaulted by members of the archdiocesan clergy or pastoral staff since 1940.
On May 4, an agreement in principle was reached between these four church entities and representatives of the alleged victims. The Superior Court had authorized the class-action lawsuit in May 2022.
The four entities include the Archdiocese of Quebec, the Séminaire de Québec, Collège François-de-Laval (formerly the Petit Séminaire de Québec), the Assurance mutuelle des fabriques du Québec (Mutual Insurance of Fabriques of Quebec).
This agreement, signed by all parties June 18, still must be approved by the Quebec Superior Court during a hearing July 30. Upon approval, the four institutions will have 45 days to remit the settlement amount to Dufresne Wee Avocats, the law firm representing the alleged victims in the lawsuit.
Under the terms of the settlement, claimants whose compensation requests are approved by an independent adjudicator will receive a formal letter of apology with their financial compensation. The letter will be signed by Auxiliary Bishop Jean Tailleur, former chancellor of the archdiocese, who also signed the agreement on behalf of the archdiocese.
In the letter, Bishop Tailleur will write that “we are aware that this sum of money can never erase all the suffering you have endured. … We ask you to forgive us for the acts committed. Please accept our sincere apologies.”
This settlement represents the largest amount agreed upon by a Quebec diocese in a class-action lawsuit. In 2023, the Archdiocese of Montreal agreed to pay nearly $15 million to some 108 victims and their lawyers.
With this agreement, eight of Quebec’s 18 Roman Catholic dioceses have either fully or partially settled class-action lawsuits against them. These eight dioceses — along with related institutions and insurers — have committed to paying a total of $100 million to individuals allegedly sexually assaulted by clergy, religious or laity under their authority.
As part of the process outlined in the settlement agreement signed June 18, retired judges Danielle Grenier and Robert Pidgeon will serve as the adjudicators. Grenier and Pidgeon will receive and review claimants’ files and any challenges issued by the different parties. They must also meet, “in person or via videoconference, with a minimum of 10% of all claimants.”
After the files are evaluated, each adjudicator “decides alone, according to the balance of probabilities standard, on the merits of the claim” presented by the alleged victims. The adjudicator will then determine the compensation that should be awarded to each claimant based on “the nature, number, and duration of the sexual assaults suffered, and the extent of the resulting damages.” All decisions made by the adjudicators “are final, binding, and without appeal.”
While the adjudication process mirrors other class-action lawsuits against dioceses or religious congregations in the past 15 years, specific provisions have been made for “the rare cases where the alleged abuser is still alive.” In these cases, accused individuals may request to meet with an adjudicator.
“The adjudicator may, at their discretion, review the version of the alleged abuser for the purpose of evaluating a claim file,” the agreement specifies.
Meetings with alleged abusers and alleged victims must be held separately. There is no “cross-examination” or contradictory debate, and all meetings with an adjudicator are confidential.
The adjudication process is expected to last 18 months.
This article was republished with permission from Présence-Information religieuse and edited for brevity, clarity and style. Read the original article in French.
