Warsaw's New Archbishop Resigns Amid Communist-Era Spying Scandal

VOA News ^ | 07 January 2007

[lizol]

arsaw's New Archbishop Resigns Amid Communist-Era Spying Scandal

By VOA News 07 January 2007

Pope Benedict has accepted the resignation of new Archbishop of Warsaw Cardinal Stanislaw Wielgus, who gave up the post only three days after admitting he cooperated with Poland's communist-era secret police.

Roman Catholic Church officials in Poland made the announcement Sunday less than an hour before Cardinal Wielgus was to be ceremonially installed as archbishop of Warsaw.

After he was officially consecrated in the office of archbishop Friday, Cardinal Wielgus issued a statement admitting he was a communist-era spy. He had previously denied it. He has expressed regret for his actions, which he acknowledged has harmed the church.

The cardinal's admission of helping the communist security service raised calls before Sunday's ceremonial induction for him to step aside. He said Friday he was leaving his fate as archbishop of Warsaw in the pope's hands.

Church officials said Sunday Pope Benedict has asked retiring archbishop of Warsaw, Cardinal Jozef Glemp, to remain in the post until a replacement is found.

A church commission said Friday it had found numerous documents confirming Wielgus consciously and willingly collaborated with the security organizations of communist Poland, but there was no clear proof he inflicted harm on anyone.

About 90 percent of Poland's population is Roman Catholic.

[lizol]

Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus in Plock, central Poland, in a 18 Nov 2006

[lizol]

The legal basis for his resignation accepted by the Pope was Canon 401 paragraph 2 of the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church, which says:

A diocesan Bishop who, because of illness or some other grave reason, has become unsuited for the fulfillment of his office, is earnestly requested to offer his resignation from office.

Which means, that hew had been asked to resign by the Holy See.

Which means, that he most likely lied to the Pope about his past, as Vatican is not so eager to follow, what the MSM say and to react within couple of days (as Vatican supported him before the documents have been revealed).

[rxgalfl]

This is nothing surprising, a lot of the priests were recruited to spy for the government during the communist era in Eastern Europe and a lot of them were planted for the same purpose. Majority of them ended up serving in churches for immigrants all over the world.

[bd476]

lizol wrote: "Which means, that he most likely lied to the Pope about his past, as Vatican is not so eager to follow, what the MSM say and to react within couple of days (as Vatican supported him before the documents have been revealed)."

Thank you for the Ping, Lizol. It is shocking to think that he would have lied to the Pope. Does anyone ever lie to the Pope?

[Waco]

So, what'a more important to these phonies, an oath to God or lip-sucking the Kremlin???

[LZ_Bayonet]

"Does anyone ever lie to the Pope?"

The Church would prefer this not happen. Which is no doubt why Papal marriage is prohibited.

[Cheburashka]

Thank you for the Ping, Lizol. It is shocking to think that he would have lied to the Pope. Does anyone ever lie to the Pope?
---
No more than they lie to each other.

There's this thing called original sin, see,...

[lizol]

Polish archbishop Wielgus resigns over communist past - full story from Polish Radio

[GSlob]

When did he get promoted to cardinalate? All the previous week he was listed as an archbishop.

[GSlob]

...and Judas went, and found a tree, and hanged himself from it...

[GSlob]

Judas at least had enough decency to hang himself. Wielgus so far has not.

[GSlob]

Kuklinski proved himself by deeds, not by words. And he was not an informer, mind you, but a military officer with a security clearance - apples and oranges. Of commie informers [on the receiving end] I have personal experience, and their only place is on lampposts [or trees], suspended above the ground.

[lizol]

He did not.

Yet.

He'd become a cardinal very soon however, as the Archbishop of Warsaw.

Not it's gone.

Such a beautiful career destroyed (sarc.)

[Kozik]

It is a little bit strange that RM would like to hang anyone who admits his cooperation with communist secret services, but they put a lot of effort into defending of Bishop Wielgus...

[Kozik]

He doesn't deserve to be compared to Judas.
And I would be more moderate in such opinions about bishop Wielgus until all documents are known and investigated.