POLAND
The News
23.10.2013
Cambridge University has denied awarding a ‘Man of the Year’ title to the head of the Polish Episcopate, Archbishop Jozef Michalik, currently under fire for controversial remarks me made about paedophilia.
Catholic weekly Tygodnik Powszechny alleges that Archbishop Michalik bought a certificate for ‘Man of the Year 1998-99’ from a widely criticised private institution, and has since been promoting it on his official web site.
The allegations provide further embarrassment for the clergyman following a series of controversial remarks that appeared to shift the blame for child abuse by priests towards children and their families.
On the web site of the head of the Polish Episcopate, an entry notes that the archbishop received the 1998/99 honour from “the International Biographical Centre at the University of Cambridge” in a category for “individuals whose leadership and achievements stand out in the international community.”
However, Sian Jones, a press officer at the University of Cambridge has indicated that the information is incorrect.
“I do not know of any links between our university and the International Biographical Centre,” she said.
When approached by the Catholic weekly, the International Biographical Centre itself denied links with the university. The centre is a private institution dedicated to publishing biographical dictionaries.
However, it has been frequently criticised for allegedly luring potential candidates to sign up.
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