German cardinal 'disappointed' after priests and staff log '1,000 access attempts' to porn sites on archdiocese computers

Clergy and other staff with the Archdiocese of Cologne attempted to access pornographic material using work computers. The revelation comes after a service provider discovered that there were "mass attempts to access porn websites" on archdiocesan devices.

America magazine reported that archdiocesan officials were informed in July 2022 about such activities carried out by 15 employees. Among those involved was one of the "highest-ranking clerics."

Even though accessing pornographic material is not punishable by state or church law, it is still prohibited through a service agreement with the archdiocese. The catechism of the Catholic Church considers pornography to be a "grave offense," which means it is an objective, moral offense.

The cybersecurity team for the archdiocese monitored online activity from the end of May 2022 to the end of June 2022.

The Straits Times noted there were around "1,000 access attempts" to pages that were primarily pornographic in nature. The cybersecurity system in place is meant to block undesirable content and potential threats. And the archdiocese was notified about these incidents in July 2022.

The virtual monitoring carried out was in compliance with regulations around data protection, and they were not explicitly "aimed at checking the usage behavior of individual persons."

“It has disappointed me that employees have tried to access pornographic sites with the help of devices that our archdiocese has made available to them,” Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki said.

He continued, "Not everyone is placed under general suspicion. We have a large number of committed and reliable employees in the church sector."

“To some, the consumption of pornography may seem harmless. But I agree with Pope Francis, who condemns it and warns of its dangers, especially the violation of human dignity.”

When the cardinal discovered what had happened, he suggested that the individuals be investigated immediately and dealt with in accordance with legal regulations.

One of the 15 employees with the most access attempts has since departed the archdiocese, being investigated separately by the public prosecutor's office. He is suspected of possessing and obtaining child abuse material. The archdiocese said it was cooperating with the state authorities concerning the investigation.

The DW reported that the revelations are just the latest in a long list of scandals involving the Cologne archdiocese. In June, a German court required that the church pay €300,000 ($327,009.00 USD) in damages involving sex abuse cases.

In 2022, more than half a million baptized Catholics left the church in Germany. It marks the highest number of departures ever recorded.

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