German Catholic Archbishop Offers to Resign from Office after Abuse Report Findings

The 800-page Gercke Report, known as the “Independent Investigation into the Handling of Sexualized Violence in the Archdiocese of Cologne,” covers the period from 1975 to 2018 and examines 236 files in detail to identify failures and violations of the law, as well as those responsible for them.

Heße stands accused of having neglected his duty in nine separate cases on 11 counts, according to the report, CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German language news partner, said.

“I must, and I will, draw the consequences from my actions at the time and ultimately thus also from the breaches of duty with which I am charged. I regret very much if I have caused further suffering to those affected and their relatives as a result of my actions or my failure to act,” the archbishop said in his declaration.

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, who was exonerated by the report, announced on Thursday that, as a first step, he would “temporarily release” two officials from their duties: Bishop Dominikus Schwaderlapp, a Cologne auxiliary bishop and former vicar general, and Günter Assenmacher, an archdiocesan official.

Gercke’s report identified concerns about both men’s handling of abuse cases and they will remain suspended until the allegations have been clarified.

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The archdiocese will hold a second press conference on March 23 at which Woelki will comment in more detail on his reaction to the report, with possible further consequences for officials criticized in the report.