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Cologne archbishop offers resignation over abuse scandals

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The Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, said he offered his resignation to the Pope during the break from his duties he took after criticism of how he dealt with Church abuse scandals, but the Pope has yet to decide on his offer.

Woelki took a break from his duties as head of the largest diocese in the world’s richest Catholic Church in September following a scandal over the hierarchy’s failure to deal with abuse committed by priests.

“I placed my service and office as Archbishop of Cologne at the Holy Father’s disposal, so that he is free to decide what best serves the Church of Cologne,” he wrote in a letter to his congregation.

In February 2021, the archbishop said that he will help victims report abuse, improve priests’ training and keep better records to prevent future misconduct after a report on the handling of sexual abuse was released.

The 800-page report into the archdiocese of Cologne between 1975 and 2018 found 202 abusers and 314 victims and said Church officials had failed in their duties in some 75 cases.

It prompted the Archbishop of Hamburg to offer his resignation to the Vatican and Cologne Archbishop Woelki suspending three other officials.

 

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