MONTREAL _ The brother of Marc Cardinal Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec City, has been charged with sexually abusing a young girl.

Paul Ouellet, 63, was arraigned in Amos, Que., on Wednesday on charges of having sex with a minor, sexual assault and invitation to sexual touching.

Sgt. Joyce Kemp, a Quebec provincial police spokeswoman, said the alleged crimes go back more than 20 years.

The first alleged incident occurred in 1982 when the complainant was eight years old and allegedly continued until she was 18.

The woman complained to provincial police in 2004.

Both Paul Ouellet and his brother have refused to speak to the media about the charges.

Paul Ouellet was given a conditional release after his court appearance and is to return to court June 30.

He is the father of two girls and is well-known in his hometown of La Motte in Quebec's Abitibi region. He works as a special needs teacher and is active as a poet and artist.

In 2007, Marc Cardinal Ouellet wrote an open letter to Quebecers asking their forgiveness for sex crimes committed by Roman Catholic priests. © 2008 The Canadian Press