Crisis in the Polish Church

[struggle4progress]

Friday, February 9, 2007

The crisis in the Polish Church, involving the reported collaboration of 10-15% of its clergy with the security forces of the former Communist government, bears an unpleasant resemblance to the sexual-abuse scandal that erupted in the United States five years ago almost to the day ...

What seems clear is that then-Father Wielgus had been involved with Communist Poland's security service (known as the SB, an abbreviation for "Sluzba Bezpieczenstwa") since the early 1970s, when he applied to the government for permission to study at the University of Munich. In return for this permission, he signed a document pledging cooperation with the SB, a relationship that apparently continued until the end of Communist rule.

Although Bishop Wielgus admitted some details of his past to Vatican officials and, he claims, to Pope Benedict himself before being appointed to Warsaw, he evidently did not reveal everything, having been assured, it is said, that all relevant documents had been destroyed.

According to the New York Times, "Many believed that the pope changed his mind after personally reviewing the documents in question or at the urging of Polish government officials" (Jan. 8) ...

http://www.the-tidings.com/2007/020907/essays.htm

[xchrom]

1. i hope it breaks the unhealthy influence it has over conservative politics

in poland.

poland is profoundly catholic -- and it's combined with nationalism -- there needs to be some fresh air.