German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne speaks during a news conference to present a report on abuse cases by clergy at the Archdiocese of
Cologne, March 18. Photo: CNS. A much-anticipated report on the handling of abuse cases in the Archdiocese of Cologne exonerates Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki but Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Heße has requested “immediate release” from his duties following the report.
The report by the law firm Gercke Wollschläger accuses Cardinal Woelki’s predecessors, the deceased Cardinals Joseph Höffner (1906-1987) and Joachim Meisner (1933-2017), of many breaches of duty in the handling of abuse cases – in terms of state and Church law as well as in terms of the Church’s self-understanding, the German Catholic news agency KNA reported.
The report also incriminates the former vicar general, Fr Norbert Feldhoff, and the head of the Cologne church court, Fr Günter Assenmacher, who is accused of having given inaccurate legal information in two cases.
Reaction
In an immediate reaction to the findings, Cardinal Woelki relieved Cologne Auxiliary Bishop Dominik Schwaderlapp and Fr Assenmacher of their duties, KNA reported.
He added that he was not authorised to act in all cases, for example regarding diocesan bishops. “I will therefore forward the report to Rome today,” the cardinal said.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Stefan Heße of Hamburg announced his resignation live on YouTube March 18, saying: “I am of the firm conviction that taking responsibility is part of our duty to actively deal with this dark chapter in the best possible way and to move towards a better future for everyone, first and foremost for the victims themselves.”
“I have never participated in any cover-up. Nevertheless, I am willing to bear my share of responsibility for the failure of the system,” He said.
Archbishop Heße stands accused of having neglected his duty in nine separate cases on 11 counts, according to the report, CNA Deutsch said.
“I regret very much if I have caused further suffering to those affected and their relatives as a result of my actions or my failure to act,” the archbishop said in his declaration.
Debate
The debate surrounding the investigation into past abuse in the biggest diocese in the German-speaking world has been making headlines for months. Several German bishops have repeatedly complained that the events in Cologne were damaging the entire church in Germany.
At the news conference that Cardinal Woelki attended, Bjorn Gercke, co-author of the study, identified 75 breaches of duty by eight living and deceased officials between 1975 and 2018 based on the case files.
Cardinal Höffner had committed eight breaches of duty and Cardinal Meisner 24, or around a third of the total.
The law firm said its investigation covered the period from 1975 to 2018. It found cases of abuse and transgressive behaviour by 202 accused people, of whom almost two-thirds were clerics. There were 314 victims.