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Cologne / Dormagen (dpa) - The Archdiocese of Cologne has threatened a pastor with consequences after criticizing Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki.
Pastor Klaus Koltermann from Dormagen had accused Woelki of having "gambled away all credibility".
Woelki has also been massively criticized by other Catholic bishops for months for holding back an abuse report commissioned by himself.
In return, he cites legal concerns.
After his criticism, Koltermann received a two-page letter from the Vicariate General of the Archdiocese, which is available to the German Press Agency.
In it, Personnel Manager Mike Kolb writes: «I would like to point out that your statements described in the newspaper article as well as corresponding public statements - if applicable - may constitute serious violations of your official duties as a senior pastor (...) These statements can result in measures. »
A “public stand against the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Cologne or its officials” is not compatible with the “duties of loyalty” of a pastor.
Koltermann is given a deadline of January 8th to submit a written statement.
The “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” had previously reported on it in its Saturday edition.
Pastor Koltermann stated in his answer to Kolb that the motivation for his criticism was the "unrest of the most loyal Catholics" with regard to Woelki's appearance in the abuse crisis.
His conscience had led him to take a position on this central issue.
"It is well known that our church teaches that everyone has to follow their conscience", said Koltermann.
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The reform movement “We are Church” showed solidarity with the pastor from Dormagen.
“We are Church” spokesman Christian Weisner pointed out that the Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx had also described Woelki's behavior as “devastating”.
It could not be that Koltermann was accused of acting against the Catholic Church because of his criticism of Woelki.
"In authoritarian and dictatorial states, criticism of the management is equated with criticism of the system and is prosecuted," said Weisner.
The Cologne church leadership wanted to "roll down any contradiction by force".