Pros & Cons: Does Cardinal Woelki deserve another chance in Cologne?
Does Cardinal Woelki deserve another chance in Cologne?
![Cardinal Rainer Maria Wolki](https://img.welt.de/img/regionales/nrw/mobile237279093/8102509897-ci102l-w1024/Rainer-Woelki.jpg)
Cardinal Rainer Maria Wolki
Source: Oliver Berg/dpa
After fierce protests against his return as Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki offered Pope Francis his resignation. He asks the believers for a second chance. Is he entitled to this?
Yes, says Nikolaus Doll
Source: Claudius Plough
Llet us put aside the principle of the forgiveness of sins. Too much suffering has happened to the people in the Archdiocese of Cologne. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki has done far too little to deal with sexual abuse. But it would be too easy to put the bishop’s chair in front of the door.
A kind of flight reflex has recently spread among many in positions of responsibility, whether in politics or business. Made mistakes, busted, resigned. Very easily. Many go well padded. What would Woelki expect after Cologne? The head of the Vatican “Development Ministry” is vacant. The Pope reportedly appreciates Woelki’s expertise in the field. No, so the Archbishop shouldn’t be let off the hook.
Woelki should do penance. in his diocese. He should have to work up what needs to be worked up. And his community should give him a second chance. The church is a community, a family.
Despite all the scandals, the author remains loyal to the Catholic Church, also because it had something supranational when most people thought no further than the next city wall.
No, says Lucas Wiegelmann
Source: Martin UK Lengemann
What is present in the Archdiocese of Cologne is nothing other than a disturbed relationship between the bishop and his church people.
As is often the case in such relationship crises, one side is never to blame. Woelki made mistakes. As far as is known, however, he is not and never was a cover-up for sexual abuse. So the outrage against him had something unfair from the start: in many cases it was simply directed at a man who stands for a conservative image of the church and therefore presented an attacking enemy image.
But when a relationship breaks down, at some point it’s no longer about fairness. It’s about whether there is still hope for reconciliation, no matter how small. According to everything that can be heard from Cologne, there is no longer such a hope there. Too much porcelain has been smashed, too much trust has been lost: as in the divorce war, Woelki’s behavior is no longer the problem, but the person himself.
As long as he is there, Cologne will not rest. His offer of resignation shows that someone (the Pope?) has now convinced him of that.
In Cardinal Woelki’s place, the author would prefer to live in Rome anyway.