The Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki denied allegations in a press law proceeding before the Cologne Regional Court on Tuesday. He emphasized that when a controversial pastor was promoted, he did not know his personal file. In the end, he had to swear his testimony at the request of the other side. "I swear, so help me God!" he declared.
The head of Germany's largest diocese is defending itself in the proceedings against an online report by the "Bild" newspaper that reported on the pastor's promotion. The pastor had had sex with a 16-year-old prostitute years earlier.
Did Woelki know the pastor's personal file?
According to Woelkis, the newspaper falsely claimed that when he appointed the pastor, he knew his personal file and that he was aware of a warning from the police. The Axel Springer company, to which "Bild" belongs, considers the reporting to be legally permissible.
The testimony of such a high Catholic clergyman in court is unusual and therefore met with great media interest. "Mr. Cardinal Woelki, please go to room 142!" he was exclaimed. He then entered the courtroom and took a seat in front of the judges. The presiding judge Dirk Eßer da Silva asked him if he wanted to testify, to which Woelki replied: "Yes, of course."
Eßer da Silva inquired whether it was correct that he was Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Archbishop of Cologne, 66 years old, residing in Cologne. Woelki said yes and added that he was even born in Cologne - "on the right bank of the Rhine". In the further course, Woelki was first questioned by Eßer da Silva and another judge and later also by the Springer side.
Woelki: Allegations of abuse never confirmed
Woelki described how the highest Catholic in Düsseldorf, the city dean, made the proposal in 2017 to appoint the pastor in question as his deputy. In the staff conference of the archdiocese, he, Woelki, objected: "I don't know if we should do that, there are these rumors." The rumors included the priest taking people to the sauna, tickling people and buying an apron in Rome with Michelangelo's David printed on it. He had discussed the personnel issue controversially with his employees and then received the information at the next meeting that these were really just rumors and that there was nothing of substance against the man.
Woelki emphasized that allegations of abuse against the pastor had never been confirmed. "The public prosecutor's office has stopped all investigations." A canonical procedure against him ended with an acquittal.
The survey lasted two hours in total. Woelki answered the questions calmly. Sometimes he said: "I don't know what you're getting at", "I just said that" or "You didn't understand that correctly". Once he asked, "Do I have to answer that?" The session was then briefly adjourned, after which the court announced that the question was admissible. Woelki then gave another answer.
Criminal investigations are underway against the cardinal
A public prosecutor was also in the audience, because criminal investigations have been underway against Woelki since November. The allegation of false affidavit is being investigated. It is about the question of when Woelki knew about allegations of abuse against the former Sternsinger boss Winfried Pilz. Woelki has also rejected all allegations in this case.
The Cologne head shepherd has been under pressure for a long time. Among other things, his handling of allegations of abuse is criticized. Some time ago, Pope Francis had asked him to submit a request for his resignation. Woelki did that. So far, however, the Pope has not decided whether he will accept it - instead, according to his own statements, he wants to wait until the situation in the Archdiocese of Cologne has calmed down.
