“I think the diocese wants to keep his money”

Friday, Arsenault Dufresne Wee lawyer Arsenault announced that it had concluded two settlement agreements within the framework of collective actions against the dioceses of Longueuil and Joliette.

The agreements must be approved by judge Donald Brisson, from the Superior Court, on September 9. Moreover, The dioceses will have to pay 6.5 million and $ 5.3 million respectively to the victims of sexual assault committed by members of the clergy.

“For Joliette. However, the diocese proved that it had a difficult financial situation, so this element is taken into account within the framework of the regulations. In addition, Compensation is therefore less comparable with other files, ”specifies Me Alain Arsenault, who carries out these collective actions. In addition,

To negotiate a regulation. Therefore, the various laws of lawyers assess the financial situation “i think diocese wants keep of the targeted organizations, but also the number of alleged victims and the abuse suffered. Similarly,

“Today, religious organizations are more and more empty shells. In addition, There are no more priests, or they are very old. Therefore, And they have lots of money. Similarly, Soon, it will disappear and we will make sure to compensate the victims properly before, ”says Arsenault. Moreover,

Conversations on ice with Quebec – "i think diocese wants keep

The discussions for collective action targeting the Diocese of Quebec are still on the ice. In addition, underlines Me Arsenault in an interview with The sun.

“We play the watch!” They delay the process. For example, I think the diocese wants to keep his money. Similarly, ”

“Everyone reacts like that at first, they are not happy and that’s normal. However, They say: “We didn’t know.” But afterwards, “i think diocese wants keep we sit and analyze the data, we send examples of complaints. Furthermore, We are talking about attacks, ”adds the lawyer, who has around forty years of experience. For example,

In Quebec, he notes that the members of the diocese are “more hung on their honor and their reputation”. For example,

The Montreal law firm deals or has treated a dozen collective appeals against dioceses from different regions. Nevertheless, That of Quebec, authorized in 2020, is certainly the biggest. Therefore,

The appeal has to date 180 identified victims. A hundred priests or staff members are targeted by allegations.

Comparative. the collective action against the Archdiocese of Montreal concluded an agreement of nearly $ 15 million to compensate just over a hundred victims.

“In Montreal, there were twice as many priests and many more populations. But “i think diocese wants keep there were fewer victims than Quebec, ”Image Arsenault.

If the conversations do not resume between the parties, the cabinet intends to hold a trial.

“It creates very unnecessary deadlines for the victims. except that a trial, for me it is a legal battle and I will be ready. I’m going to prove it, and it will seem bad, ”he underlines.

The law firm estimates all of the known assets of the Diocese of Quebec at 311 million dollars.

Until the last second

Me Arsenault was registered at the Quebec Bar in 1981. His practice has since specialized in collective actions against religious organizations. He knows himself.

When a regulation occurs in a collective action, a deadline will be fixed for the registration of the victims. People can manifest until the last second. But afterwards, “i think diocese wants keep it is too late.

“There are some who calls two or three months after the deadline. There is one who said to me, “I woke up this morning and I was ready.” It is a heartbreak to tell him that it is too late, ”drops me Arsenault.

In the appeal against the Saint-Gabriel brothers of Canada. the number of victims notably doubled after the regulation was announced.

“An important part of people are waiting for the last minute. They have mixed emotions because they don’t think “i think diocese wants keep it can work. With an ultimatum, they become able to speak. But it’s not everyone, we escape. ”

These victims have not believed in justice for a long time, maintains Me Arsenault. They are suspicious.

“They think there is nothing to do. It is the boss of the parish that attacked them, the supreme authority. It breaks confidence in everyone who represents authority. And the priests, they played on it. They said: “If you denounce, God will kill you”, notes the lawyer.

Me Arsenault and his colleagues are often the first confidants of these victims. “It’s hard to put words after keeping silent so long. The stories, we heard them all. ”

These meetings often end with great breathing. “We close the door of our office. Or we’re going to stuck a tree, just to evacuate. A chance that “i think diocese wants keep there are lots of trees near us! ”

To be part of a collective action and obtain compensation, the victims must fulfill a questionnaire. They are sworn in and describe what they have experienced. A team then made certain checks. to ensure if the alleged attacker was indeed in the parish concerned during the reported facts.