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Cologne (dpa) - The Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki has admitted errors in the processing of abuse offenses and in the crisis communication of the past few weeks.
“I also blamed myself,” the archbishop admitted in a video message published on Saturday.
"I'm so sorry about that."
At the same time, he assured: "It was and I want to deal with it consistently."
Woelki had commissioned an expert opinion on the handling of diocesan officials with allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests.
The report has long been ready, but Woelki has kept it under lock and key.
He cites legal concerns for this.
Instead, he has ordered a new report to be published on March 18.
His actions triggered a serious crisis of confidence in the largest German diocese.
Woelki, who at times seemed to have disappeared for weeks, expresses himself in detail and in clear words about the crisis that has arisen in the video and in a letter from the pastor of the same name.
The archbishopric is riddled with cracks, he notes.
"I know that many people in our archdiocese and beyond hold me personally responsible for it."
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In the past weeks and months, believers have made their irritation clear to him.
"You find it difficult to understand why a second independent investigation is needed to uncover the systematic connections between decades of abuse in our archdiocese and to show them in detail."
However, he is convinced that this is necessary because he needs "a certain qualitative and quantitative factual situation".
The law firm that prepared the first report rejects all allegations.
Woelki assures in his message: "It was and is my intention to achieve a transparent, consistent investigation of the misuse offenses and their systemic circumstances in our archdiocese - of course also with a view to my own person."
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210220-99-525981 / 2
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Lenten pastor letter from Woelki
Woelki's message as a video