German archbishop offers to resign after abuse criticism

A sculpture by artist Jacques Tilly with the slogan ‘11 years of relentless investigation of the abuse cases!’ is seen in front of the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, western Germany, on March 18, 2021, as a long-awaited report was published on sexual violence allegedly committed by clergy and laymen in Germany’s top diocese. | Getty

COLOGNE, Germany — The archbishop of Hamburg has offered his resignation to Pope Francis after being faulted in a report on church officials’ handling of sexual abuse allegations in his former diocese of Cologne.

Archbishop Stefan Hesse issued a statement Thursday saying he was offering to resign “to prevent damage to the office of the archbishop and to the Hamburg archdiocese.” German news agency dpa said Hesse also asked to be relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

Earlier Thursday, an investigative report commissioned by the Cologne archdiocese on church officials’ handling of past cases of sexual abuse found 75 cases in which eight high-ranking officials — among them Hesse — neglected their duties.

Hesse — who previously was a senior church official in Cologne — was faulted for 11 cases of neglecting his duty.