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Munich (dpa) - The Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx speaks in the affair about the withheld abuse report by the Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of a great damage for the Catholic Church.
"The effect of what is happening is extremely negative for all of us," said Marx of the "Augsburger Allgemeine" (Monday).
Woelki had commissioned the Munich law firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl to investigate for the Archdiocese of Cologne how diocese officials in the past dealt with allegations of abuse against Catholic priests.
Woelki is keeping the report, which has been available for months, under lock and key.
He cites legal concerns and always refers to the publication of a new report on March 18.
The criminal lawyer commissioned by him, Björn Gercke, investigated 236 cases from the Archdiocese of Cologne.
Marx further told the newspaper that the report would name those responsible for his diocese within the framework of the legal possibilities.
«I very much hope that the report will clarify responsibilities.
Of course, this also applies to myself and my areas of responsibility, ”said the long-time chairman of the German Bishops' Conference.
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The Munich diocese had also commissioned the Westpfahl Spilker Wastl office to provide an expert opinion - the period from 1945 to 2019 is being examined. According to Marx, the expert opinion will be published in the course of the year.
"I cannot and will not intervene there and influence the report," he said.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210207-99-337097 / 2