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Rainer Maria Woelki: »I stand by this attitude«
Photo: Marcel Kusch / dpa
The Archbishop of Cologne, Rainer Maria Woelki, who is massively criticized, wants to draw conclusions after the new abuse report has been submitted and, if necessary, release those responsible from their duties.
Woelki said that in a video message.
In the independent investigation, which is to be presented on March 18, the responsibilities would be "clearly identified," said Woelki.
"Then there will be the question of what consequences will be drawn," said the cardinal.
He will temporarily release the people named in the report "if necessary from their duties."
"As far as I'm concerned, I have already stated that I will face the results of the investigation," he added.
He expects the same from others.
Cover-ups or cheating should no longer exist in the archdiocese.
"I stand by this attitude."
"Results and Consequences"
Woelki has been the subject of criticism for weeks because he has not yet published the expert report commissioned by him on how diocese officials deal with allegations of child abuse by priests.
Since the completion of the report by the Munich law firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl (WSW) about a year ago, he has kept it under lock and key with reference to alleged defects.
The archbishopric threatened a pastor who criticized this with consequences.
The case attracted attention - and outrage - well beyond the archbishopric.
The number of people leaving the church has increased significantly, especially in the Archdiocese of Cologne.
Woelki had commissioned the Cologne criminal lawyer Björn Gercke to prepare a new report.
This is to be published on March 18, and the first »results and consequences« will be presented at a further press conference on March 23.
Both reports examined how those responsible in the archdiocese have dealt with allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests in the past.
A few days ago Gercke had told the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" that he had found breaches of duty by "still living officials" of the Catholic Church.
After fierce criticism, the Archdiocese recently announced that it would make the contents of the abuse report withheld publicly available.
The paper is to be made available for inspection from March 25th for “those affected, media representatives and the interested public themselves”.
A link to register online for inspection is to be announced in the next few days.
It is not known why Woelki now wants to make the content of the report accessible to the public despite the "concerns about the right of expression".
In January, the reviewers offered to publish their work at their own risk and assume the liability risks.
Woelki declined the offer, however.
The "publication of an unlawful report," the press office said at the time, could not be approved.
The report is "unsuitable" because of its technical defects.
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mxw / AFP