Archdiocese of Cologne: Cardinal Woelki denies knowledge of abusers – politics
Woelki said: “It was a mistake that it wasn’t reported to Dresden back then, in 2012, but I didn’t know anything about it, I couldn’t know anything about it because the processing of the case had been completed when I arrived in Cologne.”
To date, no decision from Rome
Woelki said he couldn’t remember which names were on a list of abusers that was presented to him in 2015. “What shocked me the most was that a friend I’ve been vacationing with for many years is on that list. That’s what’s burned into my memory and is what emotionally affects me to this day and of course also personally burdened,” he said, referring to the Düsseldorf pastor Johannes O., who has since died. “I really can’t tell you, with the best will in the world, who else was on it.”
Woelki was criticized when he decided in 2020 not to publish an expert opinion on how diocese officials dealt with allegations of abuse due to legal concerns. Instead, he commissioned a new investigation. Last year, Pope Francis sent Woelki on a five-month hiatus after accusing him of “major errors” in his communications. The Pope then asked him to submit a resignation. However, the Pope has not yet decided on this request.