Cardinal in court tomorrow- testimony eagerly awaited

Cardinal before Cologne Regional Court - testimony eagerly awaited

Archbishop Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki has to appear in court on Tuesday. It is about the legal dispute Woelki is leading against the Axel Springer publishing house about alleged false reporting. Now they want to talk to him, and not just about him.

It is an unusual appointment for the Cardinal of Cologne after all. The court has summoned him to answer important questions. It has become confusing. The dispute between the cardinal and the publishing house has been going on for many months, there have been several court dates and now Woelki's testimony as plaintiff.

Specifically, it is about the question of whether Woelki was aware of two documents in the personnel file of a priest he promoted. One was a warning letter in which the police advised the man to work in an area without contact with children and young people. And a transcript of a conversation with the former personnel manager of the Cologne archdiocese.

Witnesses with clear statements

At the two previous court hearings on this very case, a secretary of the archdiocese and the former abuse commissioner testified. Neither could confirm that Woelki was aware of the two letters. However, both knew to report that they had informed Woelki about other actions of the priest concerned. In fact, for example, the archdiocese wrote in a press release in November 2022 that the cardinal knew of unproven rumours, which had not been confirmed.

Public Prosecutor's Office investigates

Not only journalists and interested citizens will be sitting in the courtroom of the Regional Court on Tuesday, but also representatives of the public prosecutor's office. Two preliminary proceedings are underway against the cardinal. One concerns the question of whether the cardinal lied when he said that he did not know the two letters concerning priest D.

It is also interesting to ask whether the interrogation is always only about the two letters or whether the "background" is also questioned. In other words, how specifically he knew about rumours of the priest's inclinations towards youths. The questioning of Woelki is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 pm.

Woelki announced through his press office that he was extremely interested in clarification. If he could contribute with his answers, he would do so to the best of his knowledge and conscience.

Source