What’s Happening with Couples’ Blessings in Germany?
- The Archdiocese of Cologne dismissed a canonical complaint against Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki as 'obviously baseless,' stating the allegations are unfounded and reliant on 'false assumptions.'
- The Betroffenenbeirat submitted the complaint, claiming Woelki violated his duties in sexual abuse cases.
- The Archdiocese argued that legal principles cited in the complaint were disregarded since civil courts did not address the handling of abuse cases.
- Survivors described Woelki's leadership as 'retraumatizing,' expressing a loss of confidence in the investigation of abuse cases under his authority.
24 Articles
24 Articles
What’s happening with couples’ blessings in Germany?
The Archdiocese of Cologne has confirmed it will not implement guidance on blessings for unmarried and same-sex couples issued in April by the German bishops’ conference and the lay Central Committee of German Catholics.Participants in Germany’s synodal way attend an assembly in Frankfurt on March 10, 2023. © Synodal Way/Maximilian von Lachner.Msgr. Guido Assmann, the Cologne archdiocese’s vicar general, said the April guidelines appeared to “go…
Catholic World Report
BishopAccountability.org - Documenting the Catholic Sexual Abuse and Financial Crisis - Data on bishCologne Archdiocese calls canonical complaint ‘baseless’ as abuse survivors accuse cardinal
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. / Credit: Archdiocese of Cologne CNA Newsroom, Jul 21, 2025 / 09:32 am (CNA). The Archdiocese of Cologne has dismissed as “obviously baseless” a canonical complaint filed against Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki by Ger... [...]
Cologne Archdiocese calls canonical complaint ‘baseless’
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. / Credit: Archdiocese of Cologne CNA Newsroom, Jul 21, 2025 / 09:32 am (CNA). The Archdiocese of Cologne has dismissed as “obviously baseless” a canonical complaint filed against Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki by German abuse survivors to Pope Leo XIV, calling the allegations unfounded and built on “false assumptions.”The archdiocese’s response came after the “Betroffenenbeirat” (Affected Advisory Board) of the German…
It is about breached duties and perjury: The affected council of the German Bishops' Conference aims at a canonical procedure against the Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. The archdiocese defends itself.
Cologne Archdiocese Calls Canonical Complaint ‘Baseless’ As Abuse Survivors Accuse Cardinal
Courtesy photo Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. The statement also said that under German law, only courts — not prosecutors — can issue legally binding determinations and that no such findings had been made against Cardinal Woelki.
Serious accusations against Cardinal Woelki for breaches of duty in dealing with abuse cases. Pope Leo XIV is on the move.
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