Sandwiched between the Charismatic Cardinal Wyszynski and the late Pope, Jozef Glemp has managed-just about-to exert some of his Polish personality.

Under Wyszynski he would serve as his private secretary for 12 years. And he would later, after the Cardinal's, death become his replacement as Archbishop of Warsaw.

Always in the shadow of the Polish Pope-with many suggesting the Polish church was controlled by Rome-Glemp somehow manage to survive in the combative arena of Church politics.

And as a dedicated bureaucrat earning himself the nickname "to Glemp", i.e., he pleases both sides.

But as a 13-year-old boy brutally taken by the Nazis to work in the fields with others as slave labour, he must have experienced something about the art of human survival.

During his 25 year period as Cardinal in Warsaw, he would condemn AIDS as "Moral evil," call striking Polish farmers "terrorists" and go on to attack the powerful Jewish lobby in America over the "Carmelite convent" scandal, then located in the grounds of Auschwitz. As well as alienating Gdansk Ship yard trade union members over the role of the "Solidarity" martyr-priest, Stanislaw Popieluwszko.

He later underestimated Communism as a spent force in his country believing his church could still accommodate them. (Apparently released papers of the secret police (UB) confirm that he was approached many times to spy for them; It seems he refused this repeated offer- well done.)

He supported Poland's entry into the EU. Even going to Brussels in the Government delegation.

And of NATO'S new role in Europe with Polish troops, serving along side other forces, he was an early and vocal supporter.

To day at 77 years old Glemp still remains eligible to vote in the next papal election-but perhaps not for another future-Polish Pope!

And perhaps in his retirement, could we suggest that Jozef studies the Book of Revelation, Chapter 17 especially. Until then dear reader: Do-Widzenig; do zobaczenia.

G. Patrick Battell

30th December 2006

(All Rights Reserved)

Archbishop Stan Wiegler (67) has according to leaked secret police documents (SB) operated as an agent for them for the past three decades. According to him: "Nobody suffered as a result of my words or deeds."

How he can be sure of this isn't clear.

Operating under the code name of "Adam" he was given special training for agents and as a result of this was granted "special favours."

The Archbishop is due to be installed on Sunday 7th as the Archbishop of Warsaw. However, with just two days into his new "job", he was forced to resign, one hour before his official instalment was to take place. Our question is this: Was he pushed or did he jump? Bye, bye, Stan.

Mr. Glemp will now have to remain in this job until further notice.

(Previous Cardinals Glemp and Wyszinski were also approached previously to spy on church colleagues and others. Both men refused to comply. In the meantime the Vatican has given its full support to Wiegler.)