Three months after Woelki’s return: more conflicts in the Archdiocese of Cologne
Even three months after the return of Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki from his sabbatical, many conflicts continue to smolder in the Archdiocese of Cologne. Germany’s diocese with the most members seems to be divided into two camps: While some applaud the archbishop in church services, others hold out red cards to him. Meanwhile, Pope Francis has left the cardinal’s offer of resignation unanswered.
The three-month period in which a decision should be made according to canon law has apparently passed. According to Woelki, he sent the request to Francis during his break.
However, the Vatican decided on the cardinal’s business dealings with dealing with the abuse. During the several-month break that Woelki took in the worsening crisis of confidence, it became known that he and his vicar general, Markus Hofmann, spent 2.8 million euros from a special fund – the so-called BB fund – for experts and consultants. The question was whether Woelki and Hofmann, contrary to canon law, ignored two important bodies.
Relief from the Vatican
Meanwhile, the Vatican exonerated Woelki and Hofmann. The BB fund, which belongs to the Archbishop’s See, is not part of the diocesan assets, so the argument goes. Therefore, the archbishop can freely dispose of it. Woelki spoke of “good news”. The German Catholic Women’s Community (kfd), on the other hand, finds it “absolutely incomprehensible” that the cardinal can spend 2.8 million euros without involving diocesan bodies.
Similar criticism can be heard from canon law circles. The Vatican position means “the green light for a lack of transparency,” said an expert from the Catholic News Agency (KNA). The problem is that there is no well-founded scientific work and canon law requirements about the chair assets. Actually, extended rules should apply for this, as for the diocesan property.
The BB pot, from which the archdiocese also denies recognition payments for those affected by abuse, has repeatedly given rise to criticism in recent weeks. This caused outrage that a few years ago around half a million euros from the fund was used to pay off a priest’s debts. Today he would no longer make that decision, Woelki conceded. Now the “Bild” newspaper reported that the priest in distress was said to have been abused by a clergyman when he was young.
University in focus
The special fund also provided start-up financing for one of the cardinal’s most important projects – the Cologne University of Catholic Theology (KHKT). How their medium and long-term financing should look like is still open. Woelki expected clarification in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, the lay representation in the Archdiocese demanded the dissolution of the university.
The conclusion of a contract with a senior employee, who received a pension similar to that of a civil servant for this time in 2019 despite entitlements from the pension insurance system, also caused a great deal of media coverage. Damage to the Archdiocese: around 500,000 to 600,000 euros. The responsible head of department publicly emphasized that he had not acted by mistake, but “on instruction”. For his part, Woelki emphasizes that he has nothing to do with drafting the contract.
In view of the turbulence in the administration, Woelki announced that it wanted to rebuild it. The vicar general is to be assigned an administrative expert as head of office. In addition, Cathedral Provost Guido Assmann will replace Vicar General Hofmann on July 1.
Promotion and Criminal Proceedings
Meanwhile, the archbishop must keep an eye on criminal proceedings ordered by the Vatican against a priest. The man is accused of sexual assault. The tricky thing is that Woelki had promoted the clergyman to a higher position in 2017, even though he knew about the rumours.
However, it cannot be said that he promoted an “abusive priest” and “sex offender”. The cardinal enforced this in a legal dispute with the “Bild” newspaper. According to the district court, it was not a species, but a young person with whom there had been consensual sexual acts without touching.
Meanwhile, Woelki made a few gestures of accommodation after his break. So far he has resisted the denominational-cooperative religious education, but now agreed to the model that the four other Catholic dioceses started in the 2018/2019 school year.
Construction sites in schools and parishes
Pupils from both denominations receive religious instruction in a group if their own Catholic or Protestant lessons are not possible due to a lack of participants. Sunday services without a priest, but with the distribution of communion – a taboo for Woelki for a long time – should now be possible.
The parish form remains a construction site due to declining numbers of members and priests. By the end of the year there should be a plan for how the currently 178 pastoral care areas will become 50 to 60 “pastoral units”. The church base can vote on it until the fall. At the end of the year, the archbishop should decide on the layout of the future units.
By Anita Hirschbeck and Andreas Otto (KNA)