The archbishop of Cologne, renowned for its prominent Catholic diocese in Germany, expressed deep disappointment on Friday regarding the inappropriate use of work computers to access pornographic websites by employees. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki responded to the revelation made by Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger, a local newspaper, which disclosed a list compiled by the archdiocese, indicating over 1,000 attempts to access such websites from its computers. The attempts were made by numerous individuals, including senior members of the clergy.
The archdiocese confirmed the existence of the list and clarified that its IT service provider regularly checks the effectiveness of the firewalls in preventing access to websites containing explicit content, violence, pornography, and drugs. However, the purpose is not to monitor individual usage patterns. The investigation conducted did not indicate any criminal behavior.
Cardinal Woelki expressed his disappointment at the fact that employees attempted to access pornographic websites using devices provided by the archdiocese for work purposes, despite the activation of firewalls. He highlighted the harmful nature of pornography, concurring with Pope Francis, who strongly denounces it and warns against its dangers, particularly its violation of human dignity.
Upon learning of these incidents, the archbishop swiftly called for an examination. He affirmed the dedication and reliability of many employees within the archdiocese.
In other news, the Cologne Cathedral, located in Germany, witnessed people lining up for food assistance at a nearby food bank, as depicted in an image accompanying this article. The archdiocese clarified that its internal investigation revealed that Cardinal Woelki himself was not among the individuals associated with the inappropriate website usage.
While Cologne prosecutors possess the archdiocese’s list and are currently reviewing it, there is presently no suspicion or investigation into any criminal activity.
This scandal emerged during a period of significant turmoil within the archdiocese, primarily revolving around Cardinal Woelki. He is considered a controversial figure in the German church, leading to a loss of confidence among the faithful.
It is worth noting that in 2020, Cardinal Woelki faced criticism for withholding a report he commissioned on the response of local church officials to accusations of sexual abuse by priests. Citing legal concerns, this decision sparked outrage among local Catholics. A subsequent report published in March 2021 revealed 75 cases of high-ranking officials neglecting their duties.
Although the report absolved Cardinal Woelki of neglecting his legal duty towards abuse victims, he admitted to making mistakes in handling past cases of sexual abuse allegations. The Vatican dispatched two papal envoys to Cologne to investigate potential mishandling of cases by senior officials. As a result, Cardinal Woelki was given a “spiritual timeout” and criticized for significant communication errors.
In March 2022, after his return, the archbishop announced his offer to resign, which is currently awaiting action from Pope Francis.
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