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Cardinal Woelki in front of the archbishop's house in Cologne
Photo: Oliver Berg / dpa
SPIEGEL:
The controversial Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki has offered his resignation.
So did the “spiritual sabbatical” imposed by the Pope, which he has now ended, have any effect?
Thomas Schüller:
I read his letter to the believers in such a way that he really used the time to go into himself and recognize mistakes.
But he only simulates willingness to change.
He asks for trust for a "reunion", apparently a kind of probationary period.
This is an unworthy spectacle.
MIRROR:
Why?
Schüller:
The majority of believers in the diocese and all church bodies are against him.
How is he supposed to get back there?
SPIEGEL:
How do you explain that even the Archbishop's Council, his closest advisory body, is mostly against him?
Schüller:
That's what happens when authoritarian systems collapse.
Then some see their skins swimming away and want to save themselves.
When you no longer have to fear the consequences, there are suddenly many critics.
SPIEGEL:
But the pope has to decide about Woelki.
Will he accept the resignation?
Schüller:
As a clever man, he should actually know that Woelki's time is up.
But this pope is a procrastinator.
I see the probability at about 50 percent.
This is about a cardinal, this is the pope's task force, the most faithful of the faithful.
Also, Francis doesn't like it when someone is pilloried.
Then he becomes rather stubborn.
SPIEGEL:
The abuse report commissioned by the archdiocese did not attest to Woelki's breach of duty.
In the case of priest U., who has now been convicted of 110 abuses, you accused the cardinal of "inexcusable omissions".
For what reason?
Schüller:
Woelki did help the public prosecutor's office to start investigating U. again.
But until he was finally suspended, he got a job where he could continue abusing children.
Woelki violated his duty of supervision.
That's why there are now criminal charges against him.
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Schüller, what will happen in Cologne if Woelki stays?
Schüller:
The Archdiocese would implode.
more on the subject
Reactions to Woelki's offer of resignation: "No basis for a new beginning"
Catholic Church: Cardinal Woelki offers Pope resignation as Archbishop of Cologne
After a break: Cardinal Woelki returns to Cologne as archbishop
SPIEGEL:
You predicted that Auxiliary Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser, who represented Woelki during his sabbatical, would only keep the cardinal's seat warm.
In fact, he swept through quite a bit in the diocese.
He called his diocese a "perpetrator organization" and revealed that the archdiocese under Woelki spent 2.8 million euros on reports and PR.
Schüller:
Steinhäuser surprised everyone, including me.
He managed to get people to speak freely again.
He showed Woelki how to do it, how to engage in dialogue with people.
Woelki can only monologue.
SPIEGEL:
Does a bishop really have to remain in office for better or for worse if the pope rejects his request?
Schüller:
Yes, he promised the Pope absolute obedience.
That is why Cardinal Reinhard Marx and Bishop Stefan Hess must continue, even though they have offered to resign.
Hesse is accused of serious breaches of duty in dealing with cases of abuse.
The only possibility would basically be a refusal to work, in which case he would have to be punished – for disobedience.
agr
