Tense week for Cardinal Woelki, under investigation for perjury

It will be tense for Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki (66): On Wednesday, the Regional Court of Cologne will announce its decision in a lawsuit filed by the Archbishop of Cologne against the "Bild" newspaper.

In the proceedings, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki (66) himself appeared in court at the end of March.

The head of Germany's largest diocese is defending himself in the press law proceedings against an online report by "Bild", which had reported on the promotion of a controversial priest. The priest had had sex with a 16-year-old prostitute years.

In Woelki's opinion, the newspaper falsely claimed that he had been aware of the priest's personnel file when he was appointed and that he had known about a warning from the police.

Woelki has made an affidavit to that effect. The Springer publishing house considers the reporting legally admissible and is defending itself against the accusations.

Woelki himself appeared in court at the end of March. He answered questions for almost two hours. He stressed again that he had not known the priest's personal file. In the end, he swore to his testimony.

Woelki described how the top Catholic in Düsseldorf, the city dean, had made the proposal in 2017 to appoint the priest in question as his deputy. In the personnel conference of the Archdiocese, he, Woelki, had objected: "I don't know whether we should do that, there are these rumours."

The rumours had included that the priest had gone to the sauna with people, tickled people and bought an apron in Rome with a print of Michelangelo's David.

He had controversially discussed the personnel issue with his staff and then received the information at the next meeting that it was really only a matter of rumours and that there was nothing substantial against the man.

Woelki stressed that allegations of abuse against the priest had never been confirmed. "The public prosecutor's office has discontinued all investigations." He added that proceedings under canon law had also ended in an acquittal.

Independent of the legal dispute between Woelki and Springer, criminal investigations against Woelki have been ongoing since November. The accusation of false affirmation in lieu of an oath is being investigated. This concerns the question of when Woelki knew of abuse allegations against the former Sternsinger leader, Winfried Pilz. Woelki has denied all accusations in this case as well.

The head pastor of Cologne has been under pressure for a long time. Among other things, his handling of abuse allegations has been criticised.

Pope has not yet decided on Woelki's request for resignation

Pope Francis had asked him some time ago to submit a letter of resignation to him. Woelki has done so. However, the Pope has not yet decided whether to accept it - instead, by his own admission, he wants to wait until the situation in the Archdiocese of Cologne has calmed down.

Woelki himself has so far always shown his determination to vacate his post only if the Pope were to recall him.

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