Slovak bishops defend archbishop on spy reports

...collaborated with the country's communist-era secret police force.

The 73-year-old archbishop has come under fire after the Slovak daily Sme said documents from the state-run Nation's Memory Institute showed that Sokol was listed as an agent in StB files.

Sokol denies any knowing cooperation with the StB secret police, saying the files were a part of a smear campaign against him and the Church.

Secret police agents recorded several meetings with Sokol in safe houses, and paid him for his help, Sme said citing the archived files.

"Monsignor Sokol has never disclosed any of this information to state police, but, on the contrary, engaged in activities that were at that time considered as subversive," the Conference of Bishops said in a statement.

The allegations against Sokol come amid increasing media attention on activities of communist secret police agents in central and Eastern Europe as the former Soviet satellites try to come to terms with their past.

The most prominent figure hit by past ties was Stanislaw Wielgus, who stepped down as Archbishop of Warsaw in January after admitting to spying for the Polish communist secret police.

Wielgus has said he was blackmailed and harassed into collaborating.

In reaction to the Slovak allegations, the Conference of Bishops also said Sokol had written a letter to Pope Benedict to inform him of the increasing media attacks against him.

"He assured the Holy Father that he never harmed the Church, to which he has always been, and wants to remain, faithful," the statement said.