A Quebec Superior Court ruling on August 31, 2026 ordered Paméla Groleau to pay Cardinal Marc Ouellet $100,000 after finding her accusations against him to be without merit. Justice Martin Castonguay presided over the case and concluded that the defamation claims made by Groleau lacked sufficient evidence. The judgment requires Groleau to compensate Ouellet for the damages caused by the unfounded allegations.
The legal dispute originated when Groleau filed a defamation lawsuit against the cardinal, alleging that statements made about her were false and harmful. The court examined the evidence presented by both parties and determined that the accusations did not meet the legal threshold for defamation. As a result, the court dismissed the claims and awarded monetary damages to Ouellet.
Cardinal Ouellet has announced his intention to donate the $100,000 awarded to him. No further details about the intended recipient of the donation have been disclosed. The decision to give the funds away follows the court’s finding that the accusations were baseless and the subsequent financial award.
Justice Martin Castonguay’s ruling underscores the court’s assessment that the allegations lacked merit. The judgment also serves as a formal conclusion to the legal proceedings between Groleau and the cardinal. Both parties have now complied with the court’s order, with Groleau required to make the payment and Ouellet planning the charitable use of the sum.
The case concluded in Quebec, Canada, marking the end of a defamation lawsuit that attracted public attention. The court’s decision and the cardinal’s pledge to donate the awarded funds close the matter without further legal action.