Church appears divided on vetting law

He said the list of collaborators of the Communist-era secret services was, "A tool created to subjugate man and society, as a way to strengthen the power of those who came to it through usurpation, is now being read and disseminated in a way that often ignores justice and historical accuracy". The Archbishop expressed support for the groups - academics, journalists and lawyers - who came out against the law, and said it was crucial to avoid hurling unfounded accusations at the real or alleged collaborators, thus doing potentially great harm, not only to them, but also to their friends and relatives. The vetting law also dominated the sermons of other bishops. Rev Kazimierz Nycz, the newly-appointed Archbishop of Warsaw, struck a different tone, he said vetting was a necessary though painful process that had to be taken to its full conclusion. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 1, 4) R.M.