Journalists accuse Cologne archdiocese of violating freedom of the press

 

Journalists accuse Cologne archdiocese of violating freedom of the press

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COLOGNE (GERMANY)
The Tablet [Market Harborough, England]

March 30, 2021

By Christa Pongratz-Lippitt

The German Journalists’ Association (DJV) and the Association of German Catholic Publicists (GKP) have sharply criticised the Cologne archdiocese’s stipulations for journalists who want to read the first abuse report. 

On 25 March, under strict stipulations, the archdiocese allowed a first select group of ten journalists to inspect the Munich law firm’s report, which Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki commissioned but refused to publish.

The journalists had to sign a document which forbade them to take photos. make copies of the text or to cite from it. 

“These prohibitions violate the basic right of free information and, completely unnecessarily, set up legal risks for media coverage. The desire to influence the nature and extent of journalists’ personal notes is an unacceptable violation of freedom of the press,” the GKP underlined. 

“The Cologne archdiocese has once again given the impression that it wants to restrict critical reporting of the handling of abuse…