Archdiocese of Quebec to pay out $31.5M to sexual abuse victims after judge approves settlement

Lawsuit covers people who say they were sexually abused by staff dating back to 1940

A Quebec Superior Court judge has approved a historic $31.5-million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec.

The deal ends years of legal action for claimants who said they were sexually assaulted by members of the Archdiocese since 1940.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Danye Daigle approved the settlement earlier this week, led by representative plaintiffs Gaétan Bégin and Pierre Bolduc.

Both men have said they were sexually assaulted by parish priests starting in the 1950s and 1960s when they were aged 14 and 12 respectively.

Daigle heard emotional testimony from victims during a public hearing in July, to determine whether the out-of-court agreement and the requested fees, were in the best interests of the class members.

After the hearing, Bégin described it as a historic day. Now 86, Bégin said the boy whose life was was robbed, is still with him every day.

But he said the worst isn't so much what happened to him, but the suffering he says he unwittingly inflicted on his family.

"The collateral damage is indescribable," Bégin said.

Around 200 people have already joined the class action.

The Dufresne Wee law firm says other victims have 90 days to to submit a claim outlining the alleged abuse and its impact on their lives.

Lawyer Justin Wee has said the $31.5 million settlement is one of the biggest against a diocese in Quebec.

The compensation fund will be financed by the Archdiocese of Quebec, the Séminaire de Québec, Collège François-de-Laval — formerly known as the Petit Séminaire de Québec — and the Mutual Insurance of Quebec Fabriques.

In addition to the $31.5-million compensation fund, the defendants have agreed to cover the costs associated with administering the claims process, including adjudicators’ fees and expenses such as obtaining medical records and expert opinions when necessary.

The amount each person receives will be determined by two retired judges appointed to assess the claims. Victims will also receive a written apology form the Archdiocese of Quebec.

In an online statement, Diocesan officials welcomed the news, saying they hope this next phase of reparation will help victims "continue their journey toward peace and healing. "

If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database*. *

With files from The Canadian Press