‘Mishandling and delays’ of Montreal archdiocese abuse complaints: ombudsperson

MONTREAL — The ombudsperson of Montreal’s Roman Catholic archdiocese says “mishandling and delays” of abuse cases against the church are causing complainants to lose faith in the process.

Marie Christine Kirouack says in her latest report that since June, delays in some files have become “interminable.”

Kirouack says she is not questioning the good faith of Archbishop Christian Lépine but says she thinks he lacks strength in enforcing the rules and is possibly being badly advised.

She also describes a case in which a high-ranking priest transferred internal emails to a third party outside the church, revealing the names of complainants and the persons accused.