Former Caritas director raises accusations against Archbishop

Former Caritas director Erny Gillen criticized the handling of the Caritas crisis by the Archbishop of Luxembourg. Jean-Claude Hollerich was also about his own reputation after the 61 million euro fraud became known in the summer of 2024, according to Gillen in the Fifth episode of the « Carambolage » documentary cast from Radio 100.7: « So think, de cardinol jean-claude hollerech, deen huet jo perspectives op of the world level, when a dat dat esou ka soen, i.e. within the kierch, to hien huet dee moment naucherliche ochm, to which Selwer six duerstell a wet roll datt as kierch wëllt elo hei Iwwerhuelen Op of the Lëtzebuerger Terrain. « 

On the demand of the 100.7 journalist, whether it was less problematic for the archbishop that the Caritas was going to save them than that he saves them, replies Gillen: « So déi Fro, when Ech op sermegt géif sëtzen, géif ech me déi then awer d’léungsin sech fonnt Jo, Meng Caritas, Dat Ass Dat, Wat Se to Bouneweg on the Por Maachen.  » Gillen thus refers to the charitable activities within Catholic parishes that are independent of Caritas institution.

No millions at your disposal

Gillen was director of the Luxembourg Caritas between 1989 and 2011. He then negotiated the state church reforms with the government until 2015 as vicar of general. In 2016 he gave up his priesthood. Today Gillen, with his “Moral Factory”, advises companies and institutions on ethics issues.

According to 100.7, Cardinal Hollerich did not want to comment in the podcast. However, his auxiliary bishop and today’s Vicar General Leo Wagener has their say and defends the decision of the church management not to save Caritas after the huge deficit became known. The Archdiocese has invested many funds in real estate projects and has no millions at their disposal. « At the diocese, Net Higoen a Säin Eegen Patrimoine a Gefor Bréngen, Andeem E Géing Puer Millioune Ginn Enger is very an entitéit, » said Wagener.