Pro-homosexual demo at opening of Archdiocesan education campus in Germany. Cardinal Woelki in the thick of it.

Trouble over rainbow symbol at Church school opening in Cologne

Cardinal Woelki opened a new Archdiocesan school center in Cologne. Rainbow symbols were reportedly avoided. Parents and students are outraged and protesting.

At the inauguration of a new Archdiocesan education campus in Cologne with Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, there was trouble over the rainbow symbol of the LGBTQ movement. According to a report in the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger," the symbol was to be avoided at the request of the school administration, prompting a protest from parents. Quite a few parents and children wore rainbow buttons, as well as rainbow-colored T-shirts, bags, and tights during the ceremony. The archdiocese denied that there had been a clear directive against rainbow symbols from the school administration.

Catholic parish worker Marianne Arndt told the DPA news agency that after distributing rainbow stickers, she was asked to leave the building by a security guard. "I followed this instruction." Two students with rainbow stickers were asked to remove them "because the Cardinal doesn't like it." She gained the impression that teachers and school administration had been put under pressure from above before the event. "The system is full of fear," Arndt said. "That is the great danger. Freedom is needed for education."

Cologne: Cardinal Woelki allegedly knew nothing about all this

Pastor Franz Meurer, who enjoys national recognition due to his social commitment and as a book author, also wore a rainbow symbol, according to his own words. "How can this great project, in which the cardinal says it's about diversity, come across so badly because of someone's stupidity?" Meurer told DPA. The school center itself is a great project, but it is now completely overshadowed by the rainbow conflict.

Cardinal Woelki's spokesperson said the school administration had merely pointed out in a humorous email that formal attire should be worn at the inauguration, not a "rainbow tie." Cardinal Woelki knew nothing of this, his spokesperson told DPA.

In a statement, the Archdiocese said: "We regret if the impression has arisen that not everyone is welcome at the Archbishop's Educational Campus Cologne-Kalk." The school community is currently very diverse. "To make it quite clear: No one may be discriminated against, excluded, or devalued because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," the Archdiocese said.

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