Montreal, Canada, May 5, 2021 / 19:01 pm
The Archdiocese of Montreal announced Wednesday the appointment of an independent ombudsman, Marie Christine Kirouac, to receive all complaints of abuse or inappropriate conduct within the archdiocese.
The appointment continues the implementation of recommendations set forth in the Capriolo Report released in November 2020.
“We have a responsibility to report to the ombudsman any circumstance of abuse,” said Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal May 5. “It is essential we honor our commitment and remain vigilant. The appointment of the first ombudsman and the implementation of these new procedures will better enable us to protect the faithful and the wider community.”
Kirouac, a lawyer with almost 30 years of service and extensive experience in crisis intervention, will oversee the follow-up in each case. She will also provide a detailed report about the types of complaints at least once per year, and will make the report available to the public.