comedian about cardinal
Carolin Kebekus: Woelki’s attitude is “schizophrenic”
Pope Francis cannot admit that “somebody messed things up,” criticizes comedian Carolin Kebekus. Photo: Henning Kaiser/dpa
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Offer to resign – and then cling to office? Comedian Carolin Kebekus, who has left the church, attests Cardinal Woelki “ignorance”. She also finds clear words for Pope Francis.
Carolin Kebekus considers the current attitude of the Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki to be “schizophrenic”. “It can’t be topped anymore, this ignorance,” said the Cologne-based comedian of the German Press Agency.
“How schizophrenic it is to offer your resignation on the one hand, but at the same time to say, ‘I want to go back to my job’.” Woelki (65) had offered Pope Francis (85) his resignation, but he only wants to decide later. Meanwhile, Woelki is still in office. He asked the faithful in the Archdiocese of Cologne for a second chance after a crisis of confidence.
Kebekus (41), who left the church years ago but still considers herself a Catholic, also criticized Francis’ attitude. “In principle, the Pope does not accept any resignation, because then he would make himself fallible in his logic. These are all his envoys, his representatives, and that’s all approved by God somewhere. So he can’t admit that someone screwed things up.”
Kebekus: “As if the people of Cologne had a subscription to such guys”
It is hard to believe how long the Woelki case has dragged on and the number of people leaving the church has been increasing without anything happening. «There have already been so many situations where you said: “Good-bye, Woelki! That’s it!” But no. And also with such a zero learning curve. It’s as if the people of Cologne have a subscription to such guys. The last one who was reasonably okay was Cardinal Frings.”
Cardinal Josef Frings (1887-1978) became famous for allowing the people of Cologne to steal coal shortly after the war.
Kebekus supports the Cologne initiative “Umsteuern”, the first independent contact point for victims of sexual abuse in the church. “There’s a lot to do there,” she said. “We have volunteer advisors, but also a salaried specialist who could now work part-time, but also easily full-time. The need is there.”