Ex-Archbishop Facing Excommunication
Zambia´s Milingo Ordered to Cut Ties with Moon´s Sect
VATICAN CITY, JULY 17, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Excommunication looms for a one-time African archbishop who went through a marriage ceremony presided
over by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon in May.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a note ordering Emmanuel Milingo, archbishop emeritus of Lusaka, Zambia, "by mandate of the
Supreme Pontiff" to "separate from Maria Sung," and "to sever all links with the sect, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification."
Milingo, 71, civilly married Sung, a 43-year-old Korean acupuncturist, in a group wedding led by Moon at the New York Hilton.
After the May 27 wedding, Milingo told the press that the threat of excommunication meant "nothing" to him. He had met his future wife two days before the
wedding. She was chosen by Unification Church founder Moon himself. Following the wedding, the Vatican said that Milingo could no longer be considered a
bishop.
In its note, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ordered Milingo "to declare publicly fidelity to the doctrine and ecclesiastical discipline of celibacy,
and to manifest his obedience to the Supreme Pontiff by a clear and unequivocal act."
The Holy See established Aug. 20 as the date by which the archbishop must repent or face excommunication.
The Holy See had been tolerant with Milingo until the May wedding. In 1983 John Paul II transferred him to Rome, for his inappropriate use of exorcism
powers and his role in causing divisions in the Lusaka Archdiocese. The Pope appointed Milingo a "special delegate" of the Pontifical Council for Migrants
and Travelers.
Milingo continued to hold exorcisms and other events in dioceses without bishops' permissions. Last year he was asked to quit his Vatican post. Out of respect
for his person, the Vatican continued to pay his salary, and to give him a home and a Vatican passport.
Milingo got involved with Moon's sect some years ago. He participated in mass marriages organized by the sect in Japan in 1999, and in Korea in 2000. On
that occasion, he was severely reprimanded in writing by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
In its note, the Vatican congregation wrote: "The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, after mature reflection and by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff, and
fulfilling its responsibility for protecting faith and morals in the life of the Church, finds itself obliged to proceed in accordance with Canon 1347-1 of the Code
of Canon Law, in order to protect the faithful from the serious harm caused by the recent behavior of the Most Reverend Emmanuel Milingo, Archbishop
Emeritus of Lusaka."
The Holy See has tried in vain to contact Milingo since the May wedding ceremony.
In May, he published a statement saying, "At 71 years, after a life of devotion to the Church and my priestly vows, the Lord has called me to take a step that will
change my life forever."
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Excommunication Warning for Ex-Archbishop Milingo
Note from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
VATICAN CITY, JULY 17, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Here is the note published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith warning Archbishop Emeritus Emmanuel Milingo of Lusaka, Zambia, of excommunication.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, after mature reflection and by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff, and fulfilling its responsibility for protecting faith and morals in the life of the Church, finds itself obliged to proceed in accordance with Canon 1347-1 of the Code of Canon Law, in order to protect the faithful from the serious harm caused by the recent behavior of the Most Reverend Emmanuel Milingo, Archbishop Emeritus of Lusaka.
The said Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:
1. noting the grave public conduct and statements whereby the Archbishop has attempted an asserted "matrimonial union" with the Korean Maria Sung, has adhered to the sect of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, and has failed in communion with the Successor of Peter and the College of Bishops;
2. having verified the impossibility of communicating with Archbishop Milingo in order to invite him to reflect on the grave consequences of his conduct and actions, to make amends for the scandal given, and to reform;
3. communicates to Archbishop Milingo, in accordance with the above-mentioned Canon 1347-1 of the Code of Canon Law, the following public canonical admonition:
a) to separate from Maria Sung;
b) to sever all links with the sect, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification;
c) to declare publicly fidelity to the doctrine and ecclesiastical discipline of celibacy, and to manifest his obedience to the Supreme Pontiff by a clear and unequivocal act.
Should Archbishop Milingo not formally act by August 20, 2001, to fulfill what is hereby required of him, excommunication reserved to the Holy See will be imposed.
The Church, obliged as she is to proceed to this painful action for the good of the faithful, does not cease to pray to the Lord, the Good Shepherd, for the desired return of the Archbishop to the embrace of the Church and the common Father.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, July 16, 2001.
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Prefect
Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.
Archbishop Emeritus of Vercelli
Secretary
[text supplied by Vatican]
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Milingo Rejects Invitation to Avoid Excommunication
Says He Wants to Be Accepted as "Married Archbishop"
WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 27, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Rejecting the Vatican's invitation to avoid excommunication, former Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo said he will stay with the woman he married last May in a wedding presided over by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.
At a press conference Wednesday, the former archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia, who is known for his exorcism and healing ceremonies, announced that he would disregard the July 17 request of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to avoid excommunication.
The document, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, asked Milingo "to be separated from Maria Sung," the 43-year-old Korean acupuncturist whom he married in a mass wedding led by Moon.
The document also asked Milingo to break all relations with the "Family Federation for World Peace and Unification" sect, and to "publicly declare fidelity to the doctrine and ecclesiastical discipline of celibacy and to manifest his obedience to the Supreme Pontiff by a clear and unequivocal act."
Milingo has until Aug. 20 to comply -- or face excommunication, the text clarified.
At the press session, organized by the American Clergy Leadership Conference, which is part of Moon's movement, Milingo, who was seated next to Maria Sung, said: "I want to remain in the Catholic Church and be accepted as a married archbishop."
Milingo added that if he were excommunicated, he would not ordain priests or bishops.
He said that, in a certain sense, Jesus failed in his mission as messiah: "Death was imposed on Jesus ...he was killed before he was able to carry out his plans."
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Excommunication Deadline on Hold for Milingo
Decision Follows Ex-archbishop´s Meeting with Pope
VATICAN CITY, AUG. 8, 2001 (Zenit.org).- A deadline for the excommunication of an archbishop who married in the Sun Myung Moon sect has been lifted.
The move followed Tuesday's unexpected meeting between John Paul II and Emmanuel Milingo, former archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia, who married in a May ceremony presided over by Moon.
According to Father Ciro Benedettini, assistant director of the Vatican Press Office, Aug. 20 "no longer has the character of an ultimatum, as Monsignor Milingo's talk with the Pope was a truly new event, which has changed the perspective."
Both sides in the case will have the time necessary to examine the situation and come to decisions, Father Benedettini told the press today.
Last month, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said in a note that the excommunication of the archbishop would come into force Aug. 20, unless Milingo left Maria Sung and the Moon sect, and publicly declared his fidelity to the doctrine and discipline of celibacy and his obedience to the Supreme Pontiff.
Milingo is famous for his exorcism and healing ceremonies, which were often unauthorized. He married his Korean bride in a collective ceremony May 27 in a New York hotel.
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