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Cardinal Woelki at an appointment in March: New criticism of PR strategy
Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd / dpa
Rainer Maria Woelki is again under criticism.
It's about a PR strategy that the Cologne cardinal apparently commissioned, according to a report in the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" - and that should ensure that he stays in office.
The background is the ongoing dispute over the processing of the abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Cologne.
Because of this report, three Catholic regional heads of the Archdiocese have now sharply criticized it.
If the new allegations against Woelki are true, "we are probably facing a new low point in the crisis of the Archdiocese of Cologne," said Bonn city dean Wolfgang Picken.
The "Stadt-Anzeiger" reported last week that a concept paper entitled "How 'survived' the cardinal until March 2021" had been drafted for Woelki by several confidants.
Spicy: The strategy is said to have been developed around the time when Woelki decided to keep an expert opinion from the law firm WSW under lock and key, citing alleged "methodological deficiencies".
Apparently, Woelki should get the Advisory Board on his side
According to the report, the communications experts suggested that he get the Advisory Board of Victims of Sexual Abuse on his side in the dispute.
Those affected should therefore support his decision not to publish an initial report on how diocese officials deal with allegations of sexual abuse of children due to legal concerns.
According to the PR consultant, Woelki should focus on "emotions, credibility and authenticity".
It was already known that Woelki spent 820,000 euros on PR advice.
The Cologne city dean Robert Kleine wrote in a Facebook post that if the description is correct, it would be tantamount to “a moral declaration of bankruptcy by the diocese leadership to the advisory board and all those affected”.
Kleine further criticized that the two-page draft only dealt with Woelki's battered image, the question of a rebuild, the necessary strategy and the appropriate tactics.
In view of the response and explosiveness, he could not understand that the archdiocese did not want to comment on the confidential paper at the moment, "and certainly not accept it," wrote Kleine.
The Bonn city dean Wolfgang Picken also asked Woelki to comment on the newspaper report immediately.
"Should Cardinal Woelki actually implement the recommendations made by his PR consultants, this could irreparably damage the cardinal's integrity and would be difficult to tolerate," says Picken.
»Standing before another low point«
Wuppertal city dean Bruno Kurth also asked Woelki to explain himself.
"There is not much left of the promised new beginning in the archdiocese after our archbishop's return from the break," Kurth criticized in a statement.
»We are facing another low point in the crisis of loss of credibility and trust.
The reputation and office of the Archbishop of Cologne and thus of the Archdiocese of Cologne have been further damaged.«
The Advisory Board for Affected Persons of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) reacted with outrage to the report on the PR strategy last week.
"The Archdiocese of Cologne and above all its archbishop have used their own advisory board for profane purposes," said the spokesman for the DBK advisory board, Johannes Norpoth, the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger".
The behavior was “equally disgraceful and reprehensible”.
Woelki was sent on a five-month sabbatical by Pope Francis last year.
The pope had accused him of "big mistakes," especially in his communication in connection with the unpublished abuse report.
At the beginning of March, Woelki resumed his official duties.
However, after public pressure, he submitted a resignation, which the Pope has yet to decide on.
fek/dpa