Court bans press statements about Cardinal Woelki but it does not all go his way

Court bans «Bild» statements about Cardinal Woelki

The Cologne Higher Regional Court (OLG) has prohibited the "Bild" newspaper from making certain statements in connection with Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. The Higher Regional Court thus confirmed some of the previous judgments of the Cologne Regional Court on Thursday. Woelki had taken legal action against some articles on dealing with cases of abuse in his archdiocese because he saw them as violating his personal rights. The Higher Regional Court did not allow an appeal against the decision (AZ: 15 U 120/22 and 15 U 131/22).

Among other things, it was about an online report about a pastor whom Woelki had promoted to deputy Düsseldorf city dean. The priest had had sex with a 16-year-old prostitute years earlier. The Higher Regional Court ruled that several statements were inadmissible because the priest had not committed any crime punishable under the Criminal Code. However, unlike the Regional Court, the Higher Regional Court saw the headline “Cardinal Woelki promoted abuse priests” as a permissible expression of opinion. The Cardinal had to put up with this pointed criticism of his administration.

In addition, the Higher Regional Court banned certain statements in reports that dealt with a suspicion of a cover-up in dealing with alleged cases of abuse in the archdiocese. Wording that directly affects Woelki would violate his protection interests. However, this does not apply to the headline “Cover-up Mafia in the Archdiocese of Cologne”, since this does not affect the cardinal personally.

The Archdiocese welcomed the Higher Regional Court decision. The verdict ultimately confirmed the legal opinion of the Archdiocese and Cardinal Woelki, a spokesman said.

According to the Axel Springer media group, the Higher Regional Court decision shows that "the Archdiocese of Cologne failed in its attempt to put an end to the reporting of abuse and its cover-up". The core of the "Bild" reporting was permissible, said a spokesman.

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