A significant $31.5 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec has been approved by a Quebec Superior Court judge. The settlement brings an end to legal proceedings for individuals who claimed they were victims of sexual assault by members of the Archdiocese dating back to 1940.
Representative plaintiffs Gaétan Bégin and Pierre Bolduc led the settlement, with both men alleging they were sexually assaulted by parish priests in the 1950s and 1960s when they were 14 and 12 years old, respectively. The approval of the settlement by Quebec Superior Court Justice Danye Daigle follows emotional testimony from victims during a public hearing in July to ensure the agreement and requested fees were in the best interests of the class members.
Bégin, now 86, described the approval as a historic moment, reflecting on the lasting impact of the abuse he suffered and the unintended suffering inflicted on his family. Over 200 individuals have already joined the class action, and the Dufresne Wee law firm has announced that other victims have 90 days to submit claims detailing the abuse they experienced and its repercussions.
Lawyer Justin Wee noted that the $31.5 million settlement is one of the largest against a diocese in Quebec. The compensation fund will be funded by the Archdiocese of Quebec, Séminaire de Québec, Collège François-de-Laval, and Mutual Insurance of Quebec Fabriques. In addition to the compensation fund, the defendants have agreed to cover administrative costs related to the claims process, including adjudicators’ fees and expenses for medical records and expert opinions.
The settlement amount for each individual will be determined by two retired judges appointed to evaluate the claims, and victims will also receive a written apology from the Archdiocese of Quebec. Diocesan officials have expressed hope that this reparative phase will aid victims in their healing journey.