On May 9, 2026, Lambert Lawyers and Bellemare Lawyers filed an application for authorization to institute a class action against The Priests of Saint-Sulpice of Montreal. This request seeks compensation, including compensatory and punitive damages, for all victims who were sexually assaulted by religious members, employees or volunteers under the responsibility of this religious community.
Our customers’ story
Our client A.A.
In 1960, when he entered Collège André-Grasset for his first year of college at the age of 13, our client was assigned Father Maurice Chaput as his “director of conscience”, a member of the faculty responsible for meeting with students every four (4) to six (6) weeks.
Over the course of the meetings, Father Chaput took advantage of the private meetings he held with our client in his room, to proceed with sexual touching and other deviant behaviour. However, he did not limit himself to these meetings, Father Chaput took advantage of the isolation of the confessional to sexually harass our client and to ask him for favours of a sexual nature.
The consequences of these premeditated and calculated acts were devastating for our client: dropping out of school, anxiety and panic attacks, nightmares, and lasting feelings of guilt, fear, and humiliation. Had he been protected by the defendants, he would not have had his life shattered by authority figures in whom he should have had absolute trust.
Our client B.B.
In 1982, also 13 years old, our client entered the Collège de Montréal. After being injured while playing hockey, our client went to see Father Maurice Lavoie to get the appropriate care. It was then that Father Lavoie pretended that the infirmary was closed, and invited our client to go to his room.
It was at this point that Father Lavoie proceeded to touch our client of a sexual nature, who suddenly got up and left the premises. In the months that followed, our client noticed that Father Lavoie was constantly following him and replacing the boy’s spiritual director in order to spend time with him.
Deeply affected by the events, our client began to run away from school and miss his classes. In addition, our client learned that several of his classmates had also been victims of Father Lavoie, and even Father Lamoureux, the director of the establishment.
Our client suffered serious consequences from these premeditated and calculated acts: abandonment of his future goal of becoming a priest, a constant affection of anxiety, a persistent eating disorder and many intrusive thoughts. Like our client A.A., if he had been protected by the defendants, he would not have had his life shattered by authority figures in whom he should have had absolute trust.
The proposed class
All persons, as well as their heirs and assigns, who have been sexually abused by a member, priest, religious, employee, representative or person under the authority or responsibility of the Priests of Saint-Sulpice of Montreal.
Applications lodged with the Court
Application for authorization to bring a class action
Current status of the file
Awaiting authorization by a judge of the Superior Court.
How to be part of the class action
Si vous rentrez dans la définition du groupe visé par la présente action collective, vous faites automatiquement partie de l’action collective.
We invite you to fill out this form in complete confidentiality if you believe you are a member of the group.