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Cologne Cathedral (symbol image): Consequences for church judge Gero P. Weishaupt
Photo: Oliver Berg / picture alliance / dpa
The Archdiocese of Cologne has drawn consequences in the scandal surrounding a priest.
Gero P. Weishaupt is on leave as diocesan judge, according to a statement.
Cologne Cathedral Radio, which belongs to the Archdiocese of Cologne, published a critical report by the KNA news agency on its website and shared the link on Facebook.
The KNA report deals with the "unclear" financing of a project by Archbishop Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne.
Weishaupt published a comment on this post via Facebook.
He denigrated the station as a "propaganda organ" and wrote "Greetings from Goebbels".
After protests, the pastor distanced himself from his statement and explained that he had made a "completely inappropriate comparison".
Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels was one of the main people responsible for the crimes of National Socialism.
In the Archdiocese's recently published statement, Auxiliary Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser stated that the language and the comparisons chosen were inappropriate and unacceptable for a Catholic priest.
With his statements, the pastor caused serious damage to the archdiocese, which is why he can no longer carry out his task as diocesan judge fruitfully.
jpz/dpa