Responsibility for professional development

Dr. Holger Dornemann © DR

Spires of the Cologne Cathedral © Caroline Seidel

Catholic theologian Holger Dornemann is the new commissioner for pastoral care of homosexuals in the Archdiocese of Cologne. Cardinal Woelki appointed the 50-year-old from Wuppertal to the office at the beginning of the year, as the archdiocese announced.

Dornemann has worked for the Archdiocese of Cologne since 1996, among other things in adult education and as head of the Marriage and Family Department in the Pastoral Care Division of the Vicariate General. Since October 2016, he has headed the department of catechesis and sacramental pastoral care.

Religious educator and private lecturer

Dornemann acquired numerous qualifications in sex education, it was said. Since 2011, the habilitated religious educator and private lecturer has also been teaching at the University of Munich.

The recognition and protection of the sexual identity of each person are central concerns in his new area of responsibility of homosexual pastoral care, Dornemann explained. He is supported by a team of women and men from areas of pastoral care and counseling.

Working group for homosexual pastoral care

In the Archdiocese of Cologne, there has been a working group for homosexual pastoral care for more than 20 years, as well as a commissioner. The person in question coordinates the tasks "and bears responsibility for the professional development of this field of work, which is important for Cologne and the entire archdiocese," as the homepage states.

The "cordial invitation to the discussion" is directed at all, which look for information, orientation and company. These included homosexual people, their relatives, teachers who want to deal with the subject in class, pastors, deacons, parish and pastoral workers who have contact with homosexual people or are homosexual themselves.