Raymond Gravel

Father Raymond Gravel (November 4, 1952 – August 11, 2014) born in Saint-Damien-de-Brandon, Quebec is a priest and politician from the Canadian province of Quebec, who is currently the Member of Parliament for the riding of Repentigny, as a member of the Bloc Québécois. He was elected to the House of Commons in a November 27, 2006 by-election following the death of Benoît Sauvageau.

Gravel is controversial among the Catholic clergy and laity for his support of abortion and same-sex marriage — two issues officially opposed by the Church. He decided to enter the seminary in 1982. He is currently the priest at St-Joachim de la Plaine Church in La Plaine, Quebec.

He was acclaimed as the Bloc's candidate on October 29, 2006. As he had not sought dispensation to run for elected office, he gave up his authority to exercise sacramental ministry in so doing.