Polish archbishop admits communist-era past

WARSAW, Jan 5 (Reuters) The newly appointed archbishop of Warsaw today admitted he had worked with the communist-era secret services, appearing to back down from earlier denials in a row which has led to calls for him to resign.

''By the fact of this entanglement I have damaged the church,'' the PAP state news agency quoted Bishop Stanislaw Wielgus as saying in a statement, adding he would respect any decision made by the Pope. ''I damaged the Church again when in recent days, amid a hot media campaign, I denied the facts of this cooperation.'' REUTERS PB RN2348