Clergy and staff of the Archdiocese of Cologne tried to search the institution’s computers for pornographic sites, the archbishop confirmed, reports BBC.

Cologne CathedralPhoto: Martin Meissner/AP/Profimedia

German mass media write that during the organization’s security tests of IT systems, about 1,000 attempts to view closed sites were recorded.

The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper reported that at least one high-ranking member of the clergy was among 15 people who tried to view pornographic sites.

Archbishop Rainer Maria Velky said he had ordered an investigation.

Viewing pornography on the archdiocese’s computers is strictly prohibited, as is access to materials about drugs and violence.

According to the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, most of the suspicious activities involved pornographic sites.

In a statement from the archdiocese to the BBC, Cardinal Velky said he was “disappointed… that staff were trying to access pornographic websites”.