A storm of controversy is swirling around the induction of incoming Archbishop of Warsaw, Stanislaw Wielgus. For the past ten days, Polish newspapers have been aflame with allegations that the Archbishop collaborated with the Soviet Security Services. It is no light charge - churchmen were beaten up for opposing the state during the Soviet era. In the famed case of Solidarity priest Jerzy Popieluszko, death was the price for standing up to the Communists.
However, the extent of Archbishop Wielgus's collaboration is still unclear. He initially denied informing on his fellows, but a committee of distinguished historians remains adamant that Wielgus was no victim. Professor Andrzej Paczkowski said that he had 'no doubt at all' that Wielgus was an informant.
If Wielgus is to stand down from Sunday's induction ceremony, he must do so on the order of the Vatican or of his own free will. The Polish Church cannot make an independent decision on the matter. Until today however, both the Vatican and the Polish Church have remained behind Archbishop Wielgus. However, tensions have risen to boiling point, with polls now revealing that a majority of Poles think that Wielgus should stand down until the matter is clarified.
The affair sheds stark light on why the church hierarchy has been toing and froing over a full investigation into Communist era collaboration. Wielgus is one of the most powerful churchmen in the land, and journalists are wondering whether he was one of the leading voices to oppose a general investigation into informants. Such actions caused humiliation for untainted priests such as Father Izakowicz-Zalewski, who was criticized for campaigning to reveal names of collaborators.
The Polish Church has indeed been plagued by the informer issue over the last two years. It is a painful subject to handle, as the Church had emerged as a heroic institution during the Communist years - it was the shepherd of the nation during that era. Pope John Paul II was but one of several extraordinary Polish churchmen to inspire the nation. Yet as with Communist Tibet, the ecclesiastical orders were infiltrated. Current estimates suggest that some 10 per cent of Polish priests collaborated. Poles are now waiting with bated breath to see if Wielgus will stand down before Sunday's induction ceremony.
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