The Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki has achieved success with a lawsuit against “Bild”. The Cologne district court ruled on Wednesday that the newspaper is no longer allowed to publish certain statements in connection with the controversial promotion of a pastor. The passages in question violated the cardinal’s general right of personality.
Woelki had defended himself with his lawsuit against an online report from “Bild”. According to a spokesman, the Axel Springer media group, to which “Bild” belongs, wants to appeal the verdict (AZ: 28 O 293/21).
Woelki had promoted the pastor to deputy city dean of Düsseldorf in 2017. Years earlier, the pastor had had sex with a 16-year-old prostitute, and there were allegations of abuse against him.
According to Woelkis, “Bild falsely claimed that when the pastor was appointed city dean of Düsseldorf in 2017, he knew his personal file and knew about a warning from the police.
According to the verdict, the defendants “due to the slander of the statements” had to prove in court that Woelki knew the contents of the documents when he decided on the promotion of the pastor. However, the defendants – Axel Springer SE and a reporter – were not able to do this.
In the proceedings, Woelki himself appeared in court and stressed again that he did not know the pastor’s personal file. The chamber ruled that the questioning of two witnesses did not confirm the specific questions of evidence either.
Springer sees court decision as “scandalous”
The spokesman for the Axel Springer Group described the district court’s decision as “scandalous”: “The legitimate task of the press to uncover acts of abuse is made impossible by the standards applied by the Cologne Regional Court.”
Woelki’s lawyer Carsten Brennecke expressed his satisfaction with the verdict. “The procedure showed that Cardinal Woelki had no knowledge of the incriminating documents when he made the decision to appoint the priest.” Woelki was also mostly right in previous lawsuits against “Bild”.
Regardless of the legal dispute between Woelki and the Axel Springer company, criminal investigations are underway against the cardinal. It is about the accusation of false affidavit.
The Cologne shepherd has been under pressure for a long time and is criticized, among other things, for his handling of allegations of abuse. Pope Francis has not yet decided on his submitted resignation. (dpa)
