Archbishop admits being a communist spy!

[eoe]

But it isn't who you think it might be!
Full story (http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2007/01/06/polish_archbishop_admits_his_spying_past/)
By Natalia Reiter, Reuters | January 6, 2007
WARSAW -- The newly appointed archbishop of Warsaw conceded yesterday that he had worked with the communist-era secret services, increasing pressure on him to resign in a dispute that has embarrassed the church in overwhelmingly Catholic Poland.

[Ioan cel Nou]

But it isn't who you think it might be!
Full story (http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2007/01/06/polish_archbishop_admits_his_spying_past/)
It's exactly who I thought it might be, Wielgus. Who did you think we might think it would be?

James

[Matrona]

It's exactly who I thought it might be, Wielgus. Who did you think we might think it would be?

James

If memory serves, I believe I've heard more than one Roman Catholic make insinuations about the MP and the KGB.

[Ioan cel Nou]

If memory serves, I believe I've heard more than one Roman Catholic make insinuations about the MP and the KGB.
Oh, OK. A proverb related to glass houses springs to mind, then.

James

[eoe]

Schismatic Old Calendarists will also throw rocks at the MP for this and accuse his of all manner of nastiness.

[nikolayalexandroff]

Oh, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is very sorrowful. Life under communists was a real nightmare for believers and clergy, especially. Don't blame him much. God gracious, save us from repetition of this nightmare! It is necessary to understand that never was, from the Church beginning, such persecution. I think only under antichrist will be more severe one.

[Orthocat]

uhm...

I worked in military intelligence during the cold war as well.
Could I not be a priest or bishop? (If I met the other conditions...)

Is that on the application?

[nikolayalexandroff]

uhm...

I worked in military intelligence during the cold war as well.
Could I not be a priest or bishop? (If I met the other conditions...)

Is that on the application?
I think the matter is that he, being a priest already had collaborated with the intelligence. Very convenient camouflage indeed if it was necessary for him to travel abroad frequently to execute his church duties. To pass some thing, or take away. Collaboration of that sort is prohibited I think. If you are not a spy right now, I think you could be ordained. Or you must resign.
Things were, very likely, much worse in fact . His church seniors quite probably knew about his activity, and unofficially had sanctioned it. May be they had no other way for maintaining external church contacts they had need. But if he's caught, he's guilty.
I said already, and am repeating it now that Orwell's "1984" is just tales for kids in comparison with reality

[Xpycoctomos]

Oh, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is very sorrowful. Life under communists was a real nightmare for believers and clergy, especially. Don't blame him much. God gracious, save us from repetition of this nightmare! It is necessary to understand that never was, from the Church beginning, such persecution. I think only under antichrist will be more severe one.
I don't agree about it being the greatest persecution since the beginning of the Church. But since the 4th century, I can buy that (although I'm no historian).

I agree with you on having mercy and understanding for this poor man. The times had to be so confusing and heartwrenching for the Catholic and Orthodox leaders in the Communist Bloc during that time. In fact, we know they were.

Many suffered imprisonment, torture and death for the Truth. Others wish to escape it by making "deals" with the commies of the time, many hoping that there would never come a time when the deal would need to be enforced and so they would never have to betray the Church in action, only on paper. I would like to think that I could withstand tortue and imprisonment for the Truth, but I pray to God that I am never in such a situation. I am afraid what I would find out about myself. I am SURE that in the MP right now there are many bishops and priests who are wonderful now that have skeletons in their closets from that time period. I haven't seen anyone here judging anyone, but I suppose I just want to re-iterate Nicolay's request for compassion towards these men.

[Orthocat]

I think the matter is that he, being a priest already had collaborated with the intelligence. Very convenient camouflage indeed if it was necessary for him to travel abroad frequently to execute his church duties. To pass some thing, or take away. Collaboration of that sort is prohibited I think. If you are not a spy right now, I think you could be ordained. Or you must resign.
Things were, very likely, much worse in fact . His church giudance quite probably knew about his activity, and unofficially had sanctioned it. May be they had no other way for maintaining external church contacts they had need. But if he's caught, he's guilty.
I said already, and am repeating it now that Orwell's "1984" is just tales for kids in comparison with reality


ah, I see. If he was a priest at the time, that is not good - especially worse if the church knew.

In that position you are called to serve God, not your country's military interests. (Not to confuse that with military chaplains...)

But, as stated, we do not know what life was like in that time, and hopefully we will not have to.

[Xpycoctomos]

ah, I see. If he was a priest at the time, that is not good - especially worse if the church knew.

In that position you are called to serve God, not your country's military interests. (Not to confuse that with military chaplains...)

But, as stated, we do not know what life was like in that time, and hopefully we will not have to.
In any case we are all called to serve God just as much as the Patriarch of Constantinople. We may serve in different functions but we are all called to the same allegiance and to the same degree.