Symbol image files © Harald Oppitz (KNA)
The Archdiocese of Cologne still plans to publish the announced study on how diocesan leaders handled abuse cases: "Names will be named," a spokesman for the archdiocese announced Thursday.
"Whether there was a cover-up will be clarified by the expert opinion," a spokesman ared the Catholic News Agency (KNA) in response to a query. The demand of the Hamburg archbishop Stefan Hebe to present at the same time its view of the things would be fulfilled also. "This is in accordance with the requirements of the law of expression and has been commissioned in this way," the spokesman said.
In an interview with the "Zeit" supplement "Christ Welt" (Thursday), Hebe had rejected accusations from the previously unpublished study that he covered up cases of sexual abuse when he was head of personnel in the archdiocese of Cologne. In addition, the archbishop criticized that the Munich law firm commissioned with the investigation "could have worked more thoroughly". Hebe, who was head of personnel and later vicar general in the archdiocese of Cologne from 2006, insists that the study may only be published together with his viewpoint.
Archdiocese: Archbishop Hebe not reason for delay
The presentation of the investigation, commissioned by Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, was originally scheduled for March but was canceled at short notice and postponed indefinitely.
According to the official statement of the Archdiocese of Cologne, the planned naming of former or active responsible persons still needed clarification and safeguarding in terms of the law of expression.
An intervention by Archbishop Hebe was not the reason for the delay, the spokesman for the archdiocese now stressed.
Date of publication still open
At the same time, he stated that Hebe was "only aware of the draft of a part of the report that concerned him, which had been forwarded to him for reasons of freedom of expression.". This obtaining of the statement would also serve to be able to correct any errors.
The spokesman went on to confirm that Hebe had only been granted access to the six cases in which he was accused of misconduct in April. Only the examination under the law of expression had led to the conclusion "that such a confrontation was necessary".
No statement can yet be made about the timing of the publication of the study, it was further stated. The clarification of legal questions is not yet complete. The spokesman also stressed that it remains the case that the archdiocese should not receive the results of the investigation before publication.
Woelki had commissioned the study at the end of 2018 from the Munich law firm "Westpfahl Spilker Wastl". The period under investigation goes back to 1975 and covers the terms of office of Cardinals Joseph Hoffner (Archbishop from 1969 to 1887) and Joachim Meisner (1989 to 2014).