Archbishop Reinhard Marx is putting pressure on Lorenz Wolf, the chief church judge in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. According to the diocese, Cardinal Marx “again” asked Wolf to comment on the allegations against him in the abuse report. Marx already said this last week. What is new is that the archbishop is now setting a deadline: According to information from the SZ, Wolf is expected to make a statement in the second half of February.
In the report on sexualized violence presented two weeks ago by the Westpfahl Spilker Wastl law firm, the lawyers commissioned by Marx criticize that Official Wolf put the interests of accused priests ahead of those affected. Wolf had his lawyer dismiss the criticism as “untrue” and dispute the legitimacy of the experts. In the meantime, Wolf has announced that he wants to comment. He refuses to resign from his numerous offices, but lets his tasks rest.
As the Archdiocese announced, Vice-Official Peter Förster will take over the management of the church court. Förster is resigning from the archdiocese’s commission on sexualised violence. According to the diocese, a decision has not yet been made about his successor in the volunteer committee, which includes experts and those affected. Wolf’s position as cathedral dean is temporarily taken over by Auxiliary Bishop Bernhard Haßlberger.
–
