Cardinal Woelki Avoids Trial in Perjury Case, Pays Settlement
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne will not face trial on charges of perjury. The Cologne public prosecutor’s office announced the cessation of investigations against him, conditional upon Woelki paying 26,000 euros to a charitable organization. This decision concludes a two-and-a-half-year investigation triggered by a press law dispute with the German newspaper, "Bild." The central issue revolved around the timeline of Woelki’s knowledge regarding allegations of abuse against priests within the Archdiocese of Cologne.
The investigation centered on accusations of false statements given under oath and perjury. These charges stemmed from Woelki’s testimony in a legal battle with "Bild," which questioned the accuracy of his statements concerning when he first became aware of specific abuse allegations. The allegations were that Woelki had not been truthful about his knowledge of the abuse cases.
The prosecutor’s office acknowledged that Woelki had indeed made inaccurate statements. However, they concluded that these inaccuracies were the result of negligence rather than deliberate intent. This distinction was critical in their decision to forgo prosecution.
A key point of contention was Woelki’s assertion that he only became aware of abuse allegations against the former head of the Sternsinger (Epiphany singers), Winfried Pilz (1940-2019), in June 2022. The prosecution, however, presented evidence from Woelki’s WhatsApp communications indicating that he had, in fact, been dealing specifically with the Pilz case no later than 2019. Despite this discrepancy, the prosecution argued that it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Woelki had a clear recollection of this earlier involvement when he gave his sworn statement in 2022.
The prosecutor’s office stated that his chat messages revealed a degree of uncertainty on his part. However, he reportedly went ahead and claimed that he had first been involved in June 2022. The prosecution argued that this claim violated his duty of care.
Further, during a hearing at the Cologne Regional Court in 2023, Woelki allegedly made a statement deemed "objectively untrue" regarding when he learned about sexual abuse perpetrated by a priest. Woelki claimed that he signed a letter related to the matter but had not read it. The prosecution asserted that "numerous indications" contradicted this assertion, suggesting he was aware of the letter’s content. Yet, again, the prosecution determined that proving intentional deception beyond a reasonable doubt was not possible.
Several factors influenced the prosecutor’s decision not to pursue charges. The prosecutor mentioned that the 68-year-old clergyman had no criminal history. Furthermore, the investigation itself was said to have placed considerable strain on him. The investigation included a search of his residence, the Archbishop’s House in Cologne, in the summer of 2023. The Cologne Regional Court has approved the public prosecutor’s selected procedure. According to the prosecutor, Woelki has accepted the procedure as well.
The decision to conclude the investigation hinged on the assessment that, while Woelki’s statements were demonstrably inaccurate, proving the necessary element of intent to deceive was not feasible. The prosecution underscored that the burden of proof in criminal cases requires establishing guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a standard they felt they could not meet in this instance.
Woelki has consistently denied the allegations. He is currently in Rome, where he is one of over 130 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect the new Pope.
The case has been very controversial. The legal investigation of Cardinal Woelki has been the subject of intense public interest, especially in Germany’s Catholic community. The controversy has highlighted tensions between transparency and the Church’s handling of cases of abuse, while also questioning the responsibility of Church authorities to ensure justice for abuse victims. Although Woelki will not have to face court, this issue will likely continue to have a significant impact on how the Cologne archdiocese is managed, and will affect the standing of the Catholic Church within Germany.
The conclusion of the investigation does not put an end to the ongoing discussion and criticism surrounding Woelki’s leadership and the broader handling of abuse cases within the Archdiocese of Cologne. Many survivors and advocacy groups have expressed disappointment at the decision not to prosecute, arguing that it sends a message of impunity to those in positions of power. The demand for accountability and transparency within the Church remains strong, and the Woelki case has served as a catalyst for renewed calls for reform and justice for victims of abuse.
