Defamation Trial: Woman Details Allegations Against Cardinal Ouellet in Court
In a high-profile defamation case at the Montreal courthouse, Paméla Groleau, a former pastoral agent with the Quebec City diocese, took the witness stand on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to detail her allegations against retired Cardinal Marc Ouellet. The cardinal is suing Groleau for $100,000, claiming her statements in class-action lawsuits and to the media have damaged his reputation.
Background of the Case
The trial has seen testimony from Cardinal Ouellet earlier in the week, followed by several supporters who worked with him. Groleau's appearance marked her opportunity to present her side of the story. Under questioning from her lawyer, Alain Arsenault, she described a series of troubling experiences during her time as a pastoral agent, including working with a priest who drank excessively and another clergyman who she alleged sexually assaulted her.
Groleau then focused on what she termed the "three events" involving Cardinal Ouellet that form the core of her allegations. She recounted that the first incident occurred after a mass where she had held the Bible for an extended period. "I felt two hands on my shoulders. The force was so strong I couldn't stand up," she testified, describing an unwanted shoulder massage by Ouellet that lasted what seemed like a long time.
Escalating Incidents
Following this, Groleau said she felt a spotlight on her whenever Ouellet was present, with him consistently approaching her. The second event happened in 2008, when Ouellet greeted her and held her hand for an unusually prolonged duration. The third and most serious allegation occurred in February 2010 after a priest's ordination at Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral in Quebec City.
"His right hand caressed my back," Groleau stated. "The hand went down to the top of my buttocks. He pressed down at the top of my buttocks. And I left." She described being in shock as she drove home, unable to process what had happened. Groleau told Quebec Court Justice Martin Castonguay that she perceived a gradual escalation in Ouellet's touching and tried to avoid working with him afterward.
Silence and Disclosure
When asked if she had confided in anyone about these incidents, Groleau listed fellow church employees, family members, theology classmates, and two teachers. However, she felt constrained from speaking out. "I was told it was something you should not bring up, especially if it was about the cardinal. I felt like I couldn't bring up these facts," she explained. Notably, one confidante, Amélie Martineau-Lavallée, testified on Wednesday in support of Ouellet, stating she heard no rumors about him.
Groleau eventually left the church in 2019, taking a civilian job with the Canadian Army. It was during training on identifying pedophiles and sexual offences that she decided to come forward, making a statement to a committee related to the Quebec City diocese about her experiences. The trial continues as both sides present their evidence in this contentious legal battle.
