Archdiocese Criticizes LGBTQ-Supportive Journalist; Catholic Laity Praise Him

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, a daily newspaper in Cologne, Germany, and its chief correspondent, Joachim Frank, have recently garnered criticism from the Archdiocese of Cologne because of issues involving LGBTQ+ symbols. Yet the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), an official church lay organization, are supporting the journalist

Joachim Frank

According to Katholisch.de, the dispute was triggered by Frank’s report on the ceremonial opening of the new Archbishop’s Education Campus in Cologne-Kalk. Frank reported that the archdiocese allegedly asked employees to not wear rainbow symbols or display rainbow flags at the event. This came after a separate incident, also covered in the newspaper by Frank, in which a teacher at another school, the Kardinal-Frings-Gymnasium, faced backlash from the archdiocese after wearing a rainbow-colored sweater at the school’s anniversary celebration.

Much of the criticism arose from an angrily worded open letter posted on the archdiocese’s website written by the archdiocese’s chief management officer, Frank Hüppelshäuser. Joachim Frank was accused of unfairly criticizing and “dehumanizing” archdiocese employees. Hüppelshäuser argued that Frank sought only to “discredit” the archdiocese and “distort its public image.”

In response, the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) also expressed their support for Frank, who is chairman of the Society of Catholic Journalists, a branch of the Committee.  The ZdK argued that honest criticism of the archdiocese is “a fundamental prerequisite for trust and credibility,” and not an attack. “We note the public criticism of our member Joachim Frank by the Archdiocese of Cologne with incomprehension,” explained ZdK General Secretary Marc Frings. “Joachim Frank is a distinguished journalist who has been reporting on church issues for many years with great professional competence and personal integrity.”

The board of the Society of Catholic Journalists (GKP) issued a separate statement defending Frank and questioning the archdiocese’s choice to respond to his report with “a defamatory open letter.”

Several other Catholic journalists have rallied behind Frank. The newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Gerald Selch, rejected the allegations against Frank as defamatory. Writing his own letter in response, Selch argued that Frank’s work plays an important role in public discourse, especially to those impacted by the actions of the archdiocese. “The free press is often a (last) opportunity to counteract the critical behavior of the diocese leadership,” he wrote, and noted that those who had been impacted by the archdiocese’s actions had expressed gratitude for Frank’s report. 

Many parents and students expressed outrage at the ban of LGBTQ-associated symbols at the Cologne-Kalk event which was one of the subjects of Frank’s reporting. In response, the North Rhine-Westphalian state government issued a statement of acknowledgement, and the Ministry of Education affirmed that it is “firmly committed to diversity, tolerance, and against all forms of discrimination.” Additionally, the archdiocese has since issued a statement declaring that all young people can feel safe and valued at archdiocesan schools – “regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.” 

Although the archdiocese reacted negatively towards having light shone upon their attempt to suppress LGBTQ+ imagery, it is a positive sign that Catholic journalists like Frank are committed to calling out these actions and that other Catholic journalists support such integrity, ensuring that such actions will not go unchallenged. 

—Phoebe Carstens, New Ways Ministry, September 5, 2025