Joanna Najfeld reports

The publication by the weekly Gazeta Polska of information on the alleged cooperation of Archbishop Stanisław Wielgus with the former communist intelligence has sparked a heated debate with voices of support for the archbishop coming even from the Vatican.

Meanwhile, the article authors don't back off.

Several days before Christmas, the weekly Gazeta Polska has published an article which claimed that documents have been found proving that Archbishop Stanisław Wielgus, the newly appointed archbishop metropolitan, has in the past collaborated with the communist intelligence. According to the weekly, Bishop Wielgus agreed to be a spy for the communist regime in exchange for better opportunities to pursue his scholarly career. The bishop continued his cooperation with the communists for over 20 years, uninterrupted even by news of brutal murders on priests by the communist secret police, said Gazeta Polska in the article.

Shortly after the publication, voices were raised in defence of Archbishop Wielgus. The bishop himself denied the accusations. He said the documents were fake.

Many church officials and public figures expressed their support and trust in the priest's innocence. Clergy from Warsaw archdiocese have expressed their solidarity with the bishop, accusing Gazeta Polskaof incompetence and bad will. "Unjustified slander and accusations are directed not only against Archbishop Wielgus, but against the Church and the Nation" - wrote the priests in a statement.

Words of support for Archbishop Wielgus came also from the Catholic University of Lublin, of which he used to be the rector.

Fr. Stanisław Wilk, the current university rector says:

'The heroic attitude of Archbishop Wielgus as the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, and his zealous and non-compromising service to the truth, are the best guarantee of his righteousness. The process of clearing the collective memory, although justified, cannot be conducted in the atmosphere of slander and cannot lead to the trampling of human dignity.'

However, the Editor in Chief of Gazeta Polska, Tomasz Sakiewicz, does not back off from the accusations. He is worried that those who attack his publication are not interested in examining the actual documents. He has decided to publish evidence of the accusations in the next several issues of the paper:

'Few hundred thousand pages of documents prove it. We want the bishops and the Church to take these documents and reveal them. According to Polish law, journalists are not allowed to do this, but Bishop Wielgus could publish them. Everything could be explained the moment the bishops take these documents and show the people what is in them. But they don't want to do that. Most bishops say that they are not interested in reading these documents and they don't want to know the truth. So we have to decide to publish in the few nearest issues of the paper all that we want. This is a big attack on our journalist. We are accused of being enemies of the Church. It's not true; we are very deeply connected with the Church. We just want to know the truth about our Church.'

Tomasz Terlikowski, philosopher and journalist, is afraid that the controversy created by this case can block the process of clearing Polish public life of former communist collaborators, who were present also in the church. Terlikowski appeals for a common sense solution to the problem:

'If the archbishop is not guilty he should first of all sue Gazeta Polska; and secondly, he should call on the historical committee of the Church to set up an investigation of these documents and resolve the issue once and for all - either prove him guilty or clear him of any accusations.

We haven't seen any of these actions. Instead, we have witnessed a vehement personal attack on those who are in favor of the clearing process in the Church. Precisely this lack of common sense decision brings doubts as to the still assumed innocence of bishop Wielgus. This is worrying.'

On Thursday before Christmas, the Vatican Press Office issued a statement saying that the Holy Father Benedict 16 trusts Bishop Wielgus fully and is upholding his appointment to the office of Archbishop Metropolitan of Warsaw. The statement also said that the Vatican has examined Bishop Wielgus's past. The Polish Bishop's conference, commenting on the case, has referred to the Vatican statement.

Says bishop Piotr Libera:

'We appeal to respect the decision of the Holy Father, who has expressed trust in the nominee, giving him the office of the archbishop metropolitan of Warsaw. In solidarity with archbishop Wielgus, we offer to God his person and his new mission.'

However, Tomasz Terlikowski doubts whether the Holy Father could indeed be fully informed on the issue:

'There is a distinction in the Vatican diplomacy between a Pope being 'informed' and a Pope being well-informed. My impression is that this time the Pope was only 'informed', but not 'well informed'.

Polish bishops themselves confirm this by admitting that no-one in the bishops conference or the church historical committee has examined the archives concerning archbishop Wielgus' past.

If the documents have not been examined, then the Vatican cannot be well informed on this. Besides, it was the Vatican press office that has spoken on this. But it is the same press office that only recently published a homily by Pope Benedict which he has never given or prepared.'

The new issue of Gazeta Polska in which the journalists promised to publish evidence of the accusations, is due out tomorrow. Archbishop Wielgus will take the office of archbishop metropolitan of Warsaw on January 7.