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Rainer Maria Woelki: »A spiritual break is not a vacation« (archive picture)
Photo: Henning Kaiser / picture alliance / dpa
The controversial Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki continues to receive his full monthly salary of almost 13,800 euros during his time off.
"A spiritual break is not a vacation," said the Archdiocese of Cologne on request.
"The Archbishop is still in office." Thus, during his time off, which lasted until the beginning of March, he would receive his full remuneration according to the civil servant grade B10, which corresponds to the salary of a Lord Mayor.
Woelki wants to donate "a considerable part of it" for victims of abuse.
The »Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger« and the WDR had previously reported.
Woelki had announced that he would initially go into a retreat - spiritual reflection - for 30 days.
Afterwards he wanted to "find out more about their ways of pastoral care in neighboring churches, perhaps in those in the Netherlands," he said in an article for Domradio.
Pope accused Woelki of mistakes
The archdiocese has been in a crisis since Woelki decided a year ago not to publish an opinion on how those responsible for the diocese deal with allegations of abuse.
Pope Francis then had the situation in the archdiocese investigated by two authorized representatives.
In September the Pope decided that Woelki could remain in office despite "big mistakes".
However, he complied with Woelki's request for a break.
On Tuesday, the Cologne Auxiliary Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser took over the official business as Apostolic Administrator and will lead it until Woelki's return.
ptz / dpa
