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Warsaw's New Archbishop Resigns Amid Communist-Era Spying Scandal
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=15AB089:A6F02AD83191E1607B82DC26AE4A0F049574F7DCC14957C0 Pope Benedict has
accepted  resignation of Cardinal Stanislaw Wielgus, who gave up the
post only three days after admitting he cooperated with Poland's
communist-era secret police





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

The newly appointed archbishop of Warsaw resigned Sunday after he
admitted to having spied for Poland's communist-era secret services. 
The Vatican has asked outgoing archbishop, Cardinal Jozef Glemp, to
remain in his place for the time being.  Sabina Castelfranco reports
from Rome. Archbishop Stansilaw Wielgus was to have been installed at
a ceremony in Warsaw Sunday morning. But first the Vatican said there
would be no such ceremony.  A thanksgiving ceremony for outgoing
Cardinal Jozef Glemp was to be held instead.

Less than an hour later, the Vatican issued a statement announcing
that Wielgus would not take up his new appointment.  The statement
added that Pope Benedict had accepted his resignation.

Wielgus announced he was stepping down in Warsaw Cathedral.  Some of
the faithful present in the church complained and called out to him to
stay in his place.

The decision by the new archbishop follows a spy scandal.  After Pope
Benedict appointed Wielgus December 6th to replace retiring Cardinal
Jozef Glemp, Wielgus admitted to having had contacts with the secret
police for Poland's former communist regime.

Wielgus is believed to have informed on fellow clerics for around 20
years from the late 1960s.  He initially denied such collaboration. 
But the scandal widened when church officials Friday said that
documents at a historical institute showed Wielgus had willingly
cooperated.

As Polish media intensified calls for his resignation, Wielgus
stressed that he did not inform on anyone or try to hurt anyone and
expressed remorse for his actions.

The Vatican said in its statement Sunday that following Wielgus'
resignation the pope has asked the 77-year-old outgoing archbishop,
Cardinal Jozef Glemp, to administer the archdiocese until a
replacement is found.




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