ROME (AP) — A retired Canadian judge said Tuesday he couldn’t find any reliable evidence of sexual misconduct by the archbishop of Quebec, after the purported victim refused to cooperate with his investigation and the cardinal strongly denied the claim. Pope Francis had tasked André Denis, a retired judge of the Superior Court of Québec, to conduct a preliminary investigation for the Catholic Church into claims against Archbishop Gérald Lacroix that surfaced in January. The allegations were contained in an amended class-action lawsuit filed in Canadian court against 100 current and former church personnel of the archdiocese. Denis’ investigation has no bearing on that lawsuit and concerns only the church’s handling of the allegations, since the Vatican has its own procedures to deal with misconduct claims against clergy. The Vatican said Tuesday that based on Denis’ report, it planned no canonical trial against Lacroix, 66. |
Taylor Swift's Kim Kardashian diss track is her 'final word' on the reality TV star amid their yearsJoJo Siwa joins former coBurkina Faso Suspends BBC and Voice of America after covering report on mass killingsKylie Minogue plays peekaboo in sparkling black dress as she's honored at the TIME 100 Gala in NYCPolish and Lithuanian leaders oversee military drills along their shared borderMore doctors can prescribe a leading addiction treatment. Why aren't more people getting help?Reese Witherspoon, 48, beams beside miniThe truth about Depp's return to Pirates Of The Caribbean rebootMining giant BHP Billiton makes $39 billion bid for Anglo American to expand copper operationsMan admits to being gunman who carjacked woman in case involving drugs and money, affidavit says