Free Republic

Is Cardinal Woelki Being Targeted Because of His Concerns About Germany’s Synodal Path?VATICAN CITY — At the same time as a newly leaked document shows just how determined German Church leaders are to push their synodal path, one of the controversial initiative’s most prominent critics, Cardinal Rainer Woelki of Cologne, is being targeted by opponents over his alleged failures regarding the handling of an abuse allegation. Over the past few months, the archbishop of Cologne has been subjected to fierce attacks from parish councils, priests and most recently the diocesan council over the alleged mishandling. The cardinal has also...

German cardinal warns about country entering into ‘schism,’ becoming ‘German national church’ September 4, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Rainer Woelki, the archbishop of Cologne, describes in a new interview his recent visit to the United States, his impressions, and his many conversations with Catholics during his trip. Speaking to the local diocesan newspaper, Kirchenzeitung Köln, Woelki says that he feels “encouraged” by his visit in the U.S., but that also many people showed their concern about the developments in Germany.  “Everywhere I was confronted with concern about the current developments in Germany,” he explains. “In many encounters, the concern...

Archbishop of Cologne: “Whoever Says ‘Yes’ to Church Towers Must Also Say ‘Yes’ to Minarets” And what real difference is there, anyway? May 4, 2016 Robert Spencer    The Cardinal Archbishop of Cologne, Rainer Maria Woelki, is alarmed. Not by jihad terrorism in Paris and Brussels, or by the Muslim migrants who committed mass rapes and sexual assaults in his city last New Year’s Eve, but by the growing opposition to the Islamization of Europe. He had harsh words for Beatrix von Storch, the deputy leader of Germany’s new anti-Islamization party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), who said quite correctly...